After Hrithik Roshan‘s viral remark, Abhay Deol, Alaya F, and Fatima Sana Shaikh reacted with amusement to BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj challenging Rahul Gandhi to sing the full ‘Vande Mataram’ to smash patriarchy.
What began as a fierce political exchange between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress has unexpectedly spilled over into the world of Hindi cinema. Following Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan’s bewildered reaction, acclaimed actor Abhay Deol has become the latest celebrity to react to BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj’s viral statement linking the national song Vande Mataram with the fight against patriarchy.
The controversy originated from remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ interaction in August. While addressing a gathering of students, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha passionately called upon young women to challenge deeply ingrained societal biases. He heavily criticised what he described as a prevailing “Manusmriti mindset” that seeks to restrict women’s agency and liberty.
“What is the mindset? That a girl has a place; she should be locked in a cage, she should be controlled, she should not work, and boys should get full freedom… if they want to abuse, they can abuse; if they want to work, they can work… We do not want such Hindustan. Together we have to finish this patriarchy — smash the patriarchy! And my message to you, simple message: Be loud, be proud, and fight for your space in society,” Gandhi had declared during his address.
Reacting sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s slogan of “smash the patriarchy,” New Delhi Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj issued a direct public counter-challenge. Defending Indian cultural heritage against modern progressive critiques, the first-time parliamentarian drew a sharp, unusual parallel.
“I’m issuing a challenge to you today. You want to smash the patriarchy — fair enough,” Swaraj stated. “I am perfectly comfortable singing Christmas carols, singing Vande Mataram in its entirety, and reciting the Shiv Tandav. So, I challenge you: if you truly want to smash the patriarchy, then go ahead and sing the full version of Vande Mataram.”
The logic tying the complete recitation of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s patriotic song to the dismantling of patriarchal structures soon caught widespread public attention. Ruchira Chaturvedi, National Convenor of Social Media and Digital Communications for the Indian National Congress, subsequently posted a clip of Swaraj’s statement on Instagram, captioning it: “Does she even know what is she saying.”
The clip quickly went viral across digital platforms, ultimately catching the eye of Hrithik Roshan. The mainstream superstar expressed disbelief in the comment section, writing, “Huh? Is this real. Wow.”
Roshan’s unexpected comment opened the floodgates for multiple other film industry figures to join the conversation. Actress Alaya F responded with bewilderment, asking, “What is this,” accompanied by rolling-on-the-floor laughing emojis. Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh also echoed the sentiment, leaving several laughing emoticons beneath the post.
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The latest prominent voice to react is Abhay Deol, known for his dry wit and independent stance. Deol left three rolling-on-the-floor laughing emojis in the comments section, underscoring the amusement sweeping Bollywood over the bizarre political equivalence. As the video continues to circulate, the intersection of pop culture and political rhetoric has turned Swaraj’s remarks into one of the most talked-about social media moments of the season.
