The debate around online trolling, paid negative publicity and image-damaging campaigns in Bollywood has once again come into focus, with recent events involving Alia Bhatt sparking widespread discussion across social media platforms.
The controversy began after Alia Bhatt’s appearance at the Cannes Film Festival drew significant attention online. While many celebrated her representing Bollywood on an international stage, others criticised and mocked her appearance and presence at the prestigious event. Some social media users even claimed that she went largely unnoticed by paparazzi on the red carpet. As the criticism intensified, several celebrities came forward to defend Alia, questioning why an Indian actor representing the industry globally was being targeted instead of being supported.
The negativity grew further after the teaser of her upcoming film Alpha was released, with sections of social media once again directing criticism toward the actress. The conversation gained more traction when Shahid Kapoor, during a recent interview, addressed the topic while responding to questions about alleged online hate campaigns against Alia. He stated that he does not believe actors should feel insecure about such situations, a remark that added another layer to the ongoing debate.
The discussion also revived memories of a similar incident involving Tara Sutaria. Last year, the actress publicly criticised what she described as paid public relations efforts aimed at damaging her reputation and affecting her relationship with then-boyfriend Veer Pahariya.
Amid these conversations, actress Sanjana Sanghi shared her perspective on the growing culture of online trolling and celebrity targeting. According to her, such attacks are not limited to women and affect public figures across the board. She believes that anyone in the public eye can become a target, regardless of gender.
Sanjana Sanghi also spoke about the overwhelming nature of social media, describing platforms like Instagram as extremely noisy environments. She explained that constant opinions, criticism and commentary can distract public figures and make it difficult for them to stay focused on their work and personal goals.
The actress further noted that the level of scrutiny often increases with fame. In her view, the more popular and visible a celebrity becomes, the more likely they are to face criticism, negativity and harsh judgment online. She pointed out that public figures who trend frequently are often subjected to greater levels of trolling.
Having personally experienced intense backlash during the release of her 2020 film alongside Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjana Sanghi understands the emotional impact of online negativity. As a result, she now prefers to maintain some distance from social media noise and keeps her interactions with fans more private.
For Sanjana, the best response to negativity is often silence. She believes that if people do not have kindness or positivity to offer, it is better not to say anything at all. Over time, she says, those in the spotlight learn to ignore the hate and focus on what truly matters.
