Isha Koppikar owns 'Andhbhakt' label: 'My devotion is for India, not any party'
Synopsis
Isha Koppikar has flipped the 'andhbhakt' slur into a badge of honour — but with a pointed caveat: her devotion is for India, not any political party. The move is the latest instance of a Bollywood figure wading into the charged nationalism debate, and it signals how the 'andhbhakt' label is being actively contested and reframed in Indian public life.
Key Takeaways
Isha Koppikar posted a video on Instagram on 18 August reclaiming the 'andhbhakt' label.
She stated her devotion is directed at India , not any political party — 'Nation first.' Koppikar argued patriotism means active contribution, not just verbal declarations of love for the country.
She had previously faced trolling in July 2025 over remarks on democracy and responded similarly then.
The 'andhbhakt' term has become a recurring flashpoint in Indian public discourse, with public figures increasingly choosing to reframe it.
Actress Isha Koppikar has reclaimed the 'andhbhakt' label, declaring she is proud to be called one if loving and believing in India qualifies as blind devotion. In a video posted on Instagram on 18 August, the Kaante actress drew a clear line between political loyalty and patriotism, insisting her allegiance is to the nation — not any party.
What Koppikar Said
'If loving your country, believing in India, and wanting its progress is devotion, then yes, I am proud to be a devotee, a blind devotee. But my devotion is not for any political party, but for my country, for my India. Nation first,' she said in the video.
Koppikar extended her message beyond sentiment, arguing that genuine patriotism demands action. 'Patriotism is not just saying, I love my country. It is doing something that makes your country better,' she added, urging people to respect and contribute to wherever they choose to call home.
The Analogy She Used
To illustrate her point, Koppikar drew on a family metaphor. 'There are two types of children. One, who counts all their life what their parents have not given and what they have given. And the second, whatever they get, they make it not only their own, but also their parents' life,' she explained.
She applied the same logic to citizenship, questioning why Indians focus on what the country has not delivered rather than what they themselves can contribute. 'India is changing, my friend. Now is the time for our thinking to change and we become a part of making a new India. So, call me a devotee, call me a blind devotee, call me a nationalist,' she said.
How She Concluded the Message
Koppikar closed with an unambiguous declaration of national pride. 'I love my India. I believe in my India. Not blindly, but proudly, passionately, and unapologetically. Jai Hind,' she said. Her Instagram caption reinforced the theme: 'If loving India is 'andhbhakti,' then I'll proudly wear the label. Because I can question what feels wrong, appreciate what feels right, and still put my nation above everything.'
Background: Not the First Time
This is not the first time Koppikar has entered this debate. In July 2025, she faced criticism and online trolling over remarks on democracy, responding with a firm message: 'If loving my country makes me a label, so be it. I'd rather be proud than apologetic.' She had also written, 'Yes, I'm an Andh Bhakt. I'm a Bharat Bhakti.' The latest video appears to be a more considered, extended response to that ongoing backlash. Notably, the 'andhbhakt' tag — a term often used critically to describe unquestioning supporters of the ruling establishment — has become a flashpoint in Indian public discourse, with several public figures now choosing to reframe it on their own terms.
Point of View
Insisting her nationalism is non-partisan. That distinction matters — and will likely satisfy neither her critics, who see the framing as disingenuous, nor her supporters, who may want a more explicit political alignment. What is significant is the pattern: the 'andhbhakt' epithet, once a reliable tool for online derision, is increasingly being reclaimed and repackaged by public figures, shifting the terms of the debate from shame to pride. Whether that reframing holds up under scrutiny depends entirely on whether the celebrities invoking it are willing to criticise the government when warranted — a test Koppikar's video conspicuously sidesteps.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Isha Koppikar say about the 'andhbhakt' label?
Isha Koppikar said she is proud to embrace the 'andhbhakt' label if loving and believing in India qualifies as blind devotion. She clarified, however, that her devotion is directed at the country — not any political party.
Where did Isha Koppikar share her patriotism message?
Koppikar shared her message in a video posted on Instagram on 18 August. Her caption on the post read: 'If loving India is andhbhakti, then I'll proudly wear the label.'
Has Isha Koppikar spoken about nationalism before?
Yes. In July 2025, Koppikar faced trolling over remarks on democracy and responded by saying, 'If loving my country makes me a label, so be it. I'd rather be proud than apologetic.' The August video is an extended follow-up to that controversy.
What is the meaning of 'andhbhakt' in Indian discourse?
'Andhbhakt' — literally 'blind devotee' — is a term commonly used in Indian political discourse to describe those seen as unquestioning supporters of the ruling establishment. Several public figures have recently chosen to reframe the label on their own terms.
What was Koppikar's core message about patriotism?
Koppikar argued that patriotism is not merely about expressing love for the country verbally, but about actively contributing to make it better. She urged people to ask what they can give the country rather than what the country has given them.
