Actress and politician Smriti Irani has publicly pushed back against the growing culture of online trolling, arguing that entering public life should not strip anyone of their fundamental right to dignity. Her remarks, shared via a collective social media post on 21 September 2026, came in solidarity with Salman Khan and other celebrities targeted by body shaming and online abuse.

What Smriti Irani Said

Posting alongside fellow costars from the long-running television serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi — including Gauri Pradhan, Ravee Gupta, and Ritu Chaudhary Seth — Irani framed digital freedom as a responsibility, not a blank cheque for cruelty.

In the post, she wrote: 'Social media has democratised the right to be heard. It has given a voice to millions who may otherwise never have had one. But somewhere along the way, some began to mistake that freedom for a licence to hurt, humiliate and dehumanise.'

She went on to directly challenge the 'put up or shut up' attitude often directed at public figures: 'Those in public life are often told that this simply comes with the territory. But should it? Why should stepping into public life mean stepping away from the right to dignity? Why should anyone be expected to quietly withstand humiliation simply because the person inflicting it is protected by the anonymity of a bot, hidden behind a faceless handle, or even emboldened enough to do it under their own name?'

Irani also called out the misuse of perceived free-speech entitlement: 'Mera handle, meri opinion cannot become a fig leaf for cruelty,' she wrote, urging followers to disagree and debate without dehumanising. She concluded: 'Freedom to speak is precious. So is the responsibility that comes with it. Disagree. Debate. Criticise. Question. Hold people in public life accountable. But surely, none of that requires us to forget that there is a human being on the other side of the screen.'

The Salman Khan Context

The post followed a recent episode of Bigg Boss Weekend Ka Vaar, during which Bollywood superstar Salman Khan publicly confronted online trolls who had targeted him and fellow celebrities with body shaming, look shaming, and age shaming. Khan's on-air outburst drew widespread attention and set off a broader conversation about the treatment of public figures in digital spaces.

Irani's intervention lends political weight to what had been largely an entertainment-industry debate. As a former Union minister and a veteran of both screen and Parliament, she occupies a rare intersection of celebrity and governance — making her support for Khan's position more than a peer solidarity gesture.

The Broader Trolling Debate

Online abuse of public figures has become an increasingly contentious issue in India, with mounting calls for stronger accountability mechanisms on social media platforms. Critics argue that existing legal remedies — defamation and IT Act provisions — remain difficult to enforce against anonymous or pseudonymous accounts, giving abusers practical impunity.

Irani's note did not call for specific legislation, but her phrasing — 'the anonymity of a bot, hidden behind a faceless handle' — implicitly flags the gap between platform policies and on-ground enforcement. Advocates for digital rights, however, caution that over-regulation risks chilling legitimate criticism of powerful public figures.

What Happens Next

The post has reignited debate around platform accountability and the boundaries of online expression in India. With prominent voices from entertainment, politics, and civil society increasingly aligning on the issue, pressure on social media companies to act on coordinated abuse campaigns is likely to intensify. Whether that translates into legislative or regulatory action remains to be seen.