Pakistani actor Amar Khan voiced her support for Indian star Deepika Padukone, who faces intense trolling from hardline Hindutva elements in India.
The backlash erupted after the Bollywood superstar appeared in an advertisement with her husband, actor Ranveer Singh. The ad, which shows Padukone wearing an abaya and hijab while admiring the architecture of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, has sparked a social media storm.
Amar Khan took to Instagram Stories to respond to a sarcastic post on X (formerly Twitter) that read: “An average ‘woke feminist’ when she actually doesn’t have a choice.”
“It isn’t a woke feminist! It’s a human from a country with one-third Muslims, respecting all religions. Bravo, Deepika. What a shame that current politics in India is stooping to this level,” Amar wrote, referring to the toxic, hate-filled politics of the Narendra Modi-led government toward Muslims.
Critics accused Deepika of hypocrisy, questioning how someone who advocates for women’s freedom could “submit” to religious customs. Many referenced her 2015 “My Choice” campaign for Vogue India, arguing that wearing a hijab contradicts her feminist stance.
