Bollywood actress clarifies her stance after controversy erupts over viral pictures
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar, who recently supported her husband Fahad Ahmed during the Maharashtra elections, has been the centre of a controversy after pictures of the couple meeting Maulana Sajjad Nomani were shared online. The images, posted by Fahad Ahmed on social media, have sparked widespread debate.
In his post, Fahad Ahmed wrote, “Sir Hazrat Maulana Sajjad Nomani Sahib appeared in his service and he blessed us with prayers.” However, the post quickly went viral, leading to a barrage of criticism as some labelled Maulana Sajjad Nomani a “polarising” and “sectarian” figure.
Speaking to BBC Hindi in a recent interview, Swara Bhaskar addressed the controversy, explaining, “This meeting took place long ago during the election campaign. Fahad had asked our social media manager to post this picture, and he did so. No one had any idea that such a big controversy would arise over this picture.”
Swara clarified that it was her first meeting Maulana Nomani and that she was unaware of his controversial past. “I read about his opinions and comments only after the controversy started,” she said.
Social media was quick to respond, with an account named “The Muslim” on X (formerly Twitter) criticising the actress. “Swara Bhaskar called Maulana Sajjad Nomani a polarising and sectarian figure, even though Maulana had sought votes for him during the election campaign,” the post read.
Swara defended herself further in the interview, saying, “We met many people during the election campaign, people with different views. Maulana Nomani was one such person, but we also met others on both sides who could be considered polarising.”
The controversy deepened as debates intensified over whether Maulana Sajjad Nomani is a divisive figure. While some criticised Swara’s statement as unnecessary and politically unwise, others highlighted the challenges of engaging with diverse figures during election campaigns.
This incident again underscores the fine line between political alliances and public perception in the age of social media, leaving Swara Bhaskar and Fahad Ahmed to navigate the fallout.