Viral claim sparks outrage
The narrative gained momentum after a social media post went viral with the caption, “Wake Up Hindus. Janhvi Kapoor posted for Bangladeshi Hindu & Dhruv Rathee made a video questioning her beauty.”
Soon after, timelines were flooded with criticism, with many users assuming intent without watching the video or verifying the sequence of events.
“Tumhe Bhagwan ne dimag diya hai,” says Rathee
Addressing the allegations head-on, Rathee released a clarification video and questioned why people were believing viral posts without basic logic. Reacting sharply, he said, “Tumhe Bhagwan ne dimag diya hai, kyun nahi istemal karte iska? Matlab BJP ke IT cell wale jo post dalte rahenge, tum usse andhadhun yakeen karte rahoge.” (God has given you a brain — why don’t you use it? You’ll keep blindly believing whatever posts the BJP’s IT cell puts out.)
He further pointed out the timeline mismatch, adding, “Pehli chiz toh jis din Janhvi Kapoor ne post daali, usi din maine aadhe ghante ka video dal diya. Kya yeh realistically possible hai?” (First of all, I uploaded a half-hour-long video on the very same day Janhvi Kapoor shared her post. Is that even realistically possible?)
On Bangladeshi Hindus and ‘indirect criticism’
Rathee dismissed claims that he was targeting Janhvi for her stand on Bangladeshi Hindus, calling the allegation illogical.
“Dusra maine khud Bangladeshi Hindus ke upar reel banayi, toh main uss chiz ko lekar kyun criticise karunga?” (Secondly, I myself made a reel about Bangladeshi Hindus, so why would I criticise someone over that?)
Taking a swipe at those accusing him of indirect attacks, he added, “Main tum logo ki tarah nahi ho ke kisiko indirectly criticise karta. Main jo bolna hota hai muh pe bolta hoon. Naa main tumhare papa se darta aur naa hi main kisi Bollywood celebrity se darta.” (I’m not like you people who criticise someone indirectly. I say whatever I have to say directly to their face. I'm not afraid of your father and I’m not afraid of any Bollywood celebrity either.)
“The video is about plastic surgery, not Janhvi”
Clarifying the core subject of his content, Rathee stressed that the video focused purely on cosmetic procedures and their societal impact.
“Yeh pura video plastic surgery ke upar hai, ke uska kya impact padhta hai society pe. Iss poore video mein maine Janhvi Kapoor se koi sawaal nahi kiya.” (This entire video is about plastic surgery and the impact it has on society. Throughout the video, I did not question Janhvi Kapoor at all.)
He explained that Janhvi was featured in the thumbnail because she is among the few Bollywood actors who have openly spoken about undergoing cosmetic enhancements.
In a direct response to the mounting social media backlash, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has broken his silence regarding the controversy surrounding his latest video, "The FAKE Beauty of Bollywood Celebrities".
On December 28, 2025, Rathee addressed the allegations that he targeted actress Janhvi Kapoor as a retaliation for her Instagram story condemning the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.
1. The Core Response: "I am not afraid"
Responding to claims that he used Janhvi's image in the thumbnail out of spite, Rathee took a defiant stance in a new video and social media post, stating:
"Naa main tumhare papa se darta aur naa hi main kisi Bollywood celebrity se darta" (I am neither afraid of your 'fathers' [trolls/IT cells] nor am I afraid of any Bollywood celebrity).
He further questioned the logic of his critics, saying, "Bhagwan ne tumhe dimag diya hai toh kyun nahi istemal karte uska?" (God has given you a brain, why don't you use it?).
2. The Timeline Argument
Rathee emphasized that the timing of his video was a coincidence, not a targeted attack.
The Post: Janhvi Kapoor posted about the Bangladesh lynching incident on December 25.
The Video: Rathee’s video was uploaded just 30 minutes later.
The Defense: He argued that it is "realistically impossible" to research, script, film, and edit a detailed documentary-style video in 30 minutes. He claimed the video had been in production for weeks.
3. Why Janhvi Kapoor was in the Thumbnail
Rathee clarified that his video was a broader critique of the plastic surgery industry and its impact on societal beauty standards.
Reasoning: He explained that he used Janhvi's image because she is one of the few celebrities who has been relatively open about the "adjustments" made to her appearance, making her a relevant example for the topic.
Multiple Thumbnails: Addressing rumors that he changed the thumbnail due to pressure, he stated that he always uses A/B testing with multiple thumbnails for all his videos to see which performs better.
4. Orry’s Intervention
The controversy was fueled by Janhvi’s close friend, Orhan Awatramani (Orry), who slammed Rathee on Instagram.
The Quote: Orry commented, "She probably doesn’t even know who he is," and went on to label Rathee an "anti-nationalist" who seeks attention by targeting celebrities.
Community Reaction: While some fans defended the actors' privacy, others pointed out that Rathee’s video also named Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, and others, proving it wasn't a "one-person" attack.
5. Context: The "Dhurandhar" Backlash
This incident comes on the heels of another controversy where Rathee called the recent blockbuster film Dhurandhar "well-made propaganda." The film's team and several industry insiders have since been in a verbal spat with the YouTuber, leading to heightened tension between him and the Bollywood fraternity.
Would you like me to find the specific list of other celebrities Dhruv Rathee mentioned in his "Fake Beauty" video for comparison?
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