Actor Bhumi Pednekar is facing criticism on social media after sharing two videos on the ongoing student protest controversy within a span of a few days. In the first video, she criticised the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protests. In the second, she condemned the rape and death threats allegedly received by a young female protester. While many appreciated her stand against online harassment, others claimed the latest video came only after she faced backlash over her earlier remarks.
The two videos have now become part of the same online debate, with users questioning whether Bhumi’s latest statement addresses the criticism directed at her first video.
How the Bhumi Pednekar Controversy Started
The Bhumi Pednekar controversy began after the actor posted a video reacting to viral clips from the NEET-UG protest movement, where some protesters were seen using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the video, Bhumi said:
“Looking at the videos surfacing now, the kind of language being used, and the way the youth of our country are speaking… this isn’t how we talk, man. We are talking about someone who holds the highest office in the land today.”
She also questioned whether people would use similar language for elders in their own homes and said disagreements should be expressed respectfully. According to Bhumi, public discussions are more effective when they are carried out without personal abuse.
The remarks quickly attracted criticism online. Many users argued that while abusive language should not be encouraged, Bhumi had focused only on the protesters’ words without commenting on the issues that led to the demonstrations. Others pointed to the alleged police action during the protest and said the larger concerns raised by students deserved equal attention.
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Bhumi Pednekar’s Second Video Focuses on Online Harassment
A few days later, Bhumi Pednekar shared another video after a young woman who had participated in the protests allegedly received rape and death threats following a viral interview.
Speaking about the incident, Bhumi said:
“I saw a video on the Internet, in which a young girl who was part of the protest was giving an interview, and she looked visibly broken and shaken. Her one video had went viral, and since then she has been receiving rape and death threats, even her mother faced the same. This is unacceptable. We cannot bully a young girl. We cannot put fear psychosis in a young child’s mind just because we don’t agree with their opinion.”
The actor also said that women often face harassment online and added that such abuse can have a long-term impact on mental health.
“As women we anyway face a lot of harassment and as a public figure, I have gone through that experience and I cannot tell you how deep and lasting its impact is on someone’s mental health.”
She appealed for respectful dialogue and said social change is possible only when people raise issues in a responsible manner.
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Internet Calls Bhumi Pednekar’s Latest Video ‘Damage Control’
Instead of ending the debate, the second video triggered another round of reactions on social media.
Several users described the post as a “damage control” exercise following the criticism over her earlier comments. Comments such as “Nice damage control,” “This should have been your first video,” and “Now it feels like damage control” appeared under the post.
Others, however, said speaking against rape and death threats should not be viewed through a political lens and appreciated Bhumi for condemning online abuse.
The differing reactions reflect the larger debate surrounding the protests. While one section believes Bhumi should have addressed the concerns of the protesters before commenting on their language, another argues that condemning abusive slogans and opposing online harassment are two separate issues.
For now, the Bhumi Pednekar controversy continues to generate discussion online, with both videos being widely shared and debated across social media platforms.