In an incident that has sparked a significant debate, actress Pooja Bhatt has voiced her displeasure over a viral video that captures a group of young individuals chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ while occupying both the seats and floor of the Mumbai metro during Navratri celebrations. The video, which highlights these youngsters fervently singing spiritual songs, including ‘Bharat Ka Baccha Baccha Jai Shri Ram Bolega’ and Gujarati garba tunes, has divided public opinion and brought attention to the conduct permissible in public spaces.
While some hail the display as an expression of festive cheer, others, like Pooja Bhatt, criticize it as an unwelcome public distraction. The video was originally shared by Kunal Purohit, an independent journalist and author, who provided commentary on the phenomenon of Hindutva Pop music, emphasizing its broad appeal across various social classes in urban and rural contexts. Purohit’s caption suggested that these affluent young people see no issue with singing such tunes in public transportation spaces, pointing out the pervasive nature of this musical genre.
Pooja Bhatt took to her social media platforms to express her disapproval. Her post questioned the actions taking place in public areas: “How is this permissible in a public space? Doesn’t matter if it is Hindutva pop, Christmas carols, Bollywood blockbusters or anything in between. Public spaces cannot be misused in this manner. How and why are the authorities permitting this? Yeah, now bring on the abuse,” she tweeted, anticipating backlash for her stance.
Bhatt is not alone in her critique. Noted filmmaker Onir added his voice to the conversation, lamenting that such disruptions are mistakenly regarded as expressions of culture and spirituality. He argued that such behavior shows arrogance rather than any true spiritual or cultural engagement: “It’s a shame how nuisance is being passed on as cute and culture…just arrogance and disrespect towards others. Chest thumping has nothing to do with the inner journey towards divinity,” Onir commented.
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The issue underlines broader concerns about how public spaces are utilized and the need for civic responsibility. Pooja Bhatt elaborated on this in another post, stressing the importance of adhering to basic rules for the sake of maintaining law and order.
“If we can’t follow basic rules there is no hope for law & order to prevail in the real sense. Illegal hoardings of ALL political parties that desecrate the city, the metro being turned into a party zone. Firecrackers being lit in the middle of the street—used as cover by assailants,” she wrote, drawing a connection to larger societal issues beyond the metro incident.
Bhatt’s mention of “firecrackers being lit in the middle of the street” refers to an alarming event that recently garnered media attention: the fatal shooting of NCP leader Baba Siddique on Dussehra evening. He was brutally gunned down by three assailants, a crime for which gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who had also previously threatened actor Salman Khan, claimed responsibility. This broader context of public safety issues adds a poignant gravity to Bhatt’s concerns over metro behavior.
Pooja Bhatt’s opinions resonate with many who advocate for a respectful and orderly use of shared spaces, emphasizing collective community responsibilities. On the professional front, Pooja Bhatt was once a celebrated figure in the Bollywood scene during the 1980s and 1990s. After a hiatus, she returned to acting, appearing in several shows and movies on OTT platforms. She also took part in Bigg Boss OTT 2 and will soon be seen in a cinematic endeavor alongside Suniel Shetty. Her latest acting project was in the Amazon Prime Video’s coming-of-age series “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
In the aftermath of this incident, the discourse on the role of public transportation as a stage for cultural expressions continues, with voices like Bhatt’s urging for a balance between cultural celebration and civic respectability. This conversation remains vital in determining how shared spaces can serve diverse community needs while maintaining order and mutual respect.
