Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha has been battling online trolling since Sunday after a video from her Instagram Story, posted during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title win, was shared with misleading claims that it contained inappropriate sounds. Though the actor deleted the clip within minutes, screen recordings continued to circulate online, fuelling speculation and criticism. On Thursday, Bharuccha clarified that the sound was that of a puppy crying in the background while she watched the match at a friend’s home.
Speaking to us about the whole episode and the trolling that followed, Bharuccha says she was stunned by how quickly misinformation spread. “Honestly, my reaction was disbelief. It was such an ordinary, happy moment. I was watching the match at a friend’s place, and there was a puppy crying in the background. I felt attacked to see that it turned into something ugly, and how fast it travelled. There’s a strange helplessness in seeing a lie move quicker than you can even process what’s happening. Before I could make sense of it, it had taken on a life of its own.”
The actor admits the incident affected her more than she expected and says she consciously distanced herself from social media for a few days. “I won’t pretend it didn’t get to me. It’s a violating feeling to have your name attached to something you never said or did, and to read strangers dissecting you so cruelly. For a few days, I stepped away from my phone because constantly refreshing it was only feeding the anxiety.”
She adds that support from people close to her helped her navigate the situation. “What helped was reminding myself that the truth was simple and on my side, and leaning on the people who actually know me. I also learnt that replying to every comment only gives it oxygen. Staying quiet, and then making one clear statement, felt far healthier than fighting a thousand little battles.” Speaking about friends and family she says, “They were worried , more than I was, at one point. My family’s first instinct was to protect me, to tell me to log off and not read any of it. And my friends, including the ones whose home and whose puppy this whole thing began with, were wonderful. They were genuinely upset that something so innocent had been twisted, and they kept reminding me that everyone who matters knew exactly what had happened. That circle is what keeps you steady when the outside noise gets loud.”
Has it made her wary of what she puts out, as a celebrity and as a woman who’s an easy target for trolls? “It’s certainly made me more aware. As a woman, and as someone in the public eye, you realise almost anything can be pulled out of context and weaponised , even a puppy crying. But I don’t want the lesson to be “shrink yourself” or “stop living your life out loud.” I refuse to let trolls decide how much of myself I get to show. If anything, my real takeaway is for the people watching: verify before you believe, and remember there’s a human being on the other side of the screen. The responsibility shouldn’t sit only with the target to be careful, it should be on all of us to be sensible and kinder, ” says the actor. She adds, “Harassment dressed up as an opinion is still harassment.”
She adds that support from people close to her helped her navigate the situation. “What helped was reminding myself that the truth was simple and on my side, and leaning on the people who actually know me. I also learnt that replying to every comment only gives it oxygen. Staying quiet, and then making one clear statement, felt far healthier than fighting a thousand little battles.” Speaking about friends and family she says, “They were worried , more than I was, at one point. My family’s first instinct was to protect me, to tell me to log off and not read any of it. And my friends, including the ones whose home and whose puppy this whole thing began with, were wonderful. They were genuinely upset that something so innocent had been twisted, and they kept reminding me that everyone who matters knew exactly what had happened. That circle is what keeps you steady when the outside noise gets loud.”
Has it made her wary of what she puts out, as a celebrity and as a woman who’s an easy target for trolls? “It’s certainly made me more aware. As a woman, and as someone in the public eye, you realise almost anything can be pulled out of context and weaponised , even a puppy crying. But I don’t want the lesson to be “shrink yourself” or “stop living your life out loud.” I refuse to let trolls decide how much of myself I get to show. If anything, my real takeaway is for the people watching: verify before you believe, and remember there’s a human being on the other side of the screen. The responsibility shouldn’t sit only with the target to be careful, it should be on all of us to be sensible and kinder, ” says the actor. She adds, “Harassment dressed up as an opinion is still harassment.”