Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker, recently called out a news portal for its egregious misinterpretation of her husband Fahad Ahmad’s comments regarding their sexual orientation. Known for her sharp responses on social media, Bhasker did not hold back as she shared screenshots of the article, which she claimed made unwarranted remarks about their private life.
Fahad Ahmad’s remarks stemmed from a conversation on the YouTube show “Couple of Things,” hosted by Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol. During the interview, Fahad provided a candid glimpse into the diverse backgrounds from which he and Swara hail. He mentioned, “Her parents are well-educated. Her mother is a JNU professor, her father was a respected Naval officer and a columnist. In my house, I am the first person to study beyond Class 10. She is from Delhi, and I come from a small town named Baheri, which is not even a district. She is a Brahmin, I am a Pasmanda Muslim which comes under OBC. The only common thing is our sexual orientation; both of us are straight. Besides that, we have breached all barriers of caste, religion, cities, and so on.”
However, Fahad Ahmad’s statements were twisted by a media outlet that reported, “Swara Bhasker loved sex and that’s what brought us closer,” leading to an understandable public outcry. Swara Bhasker, understandably furious, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to condemn the media outlet’s sensationalism and misrepresentation.
In her tweet, Swara expressed her dismay and anger: “This headline and this article show how low the level of journalism in India has fallen. In the interview, Fahad jokingly says that all our social identities are different except that our ‘sexual orientation’ is the same – that is, both are cis-gender heterosexual…@news24tvchannel understood what this means!! A perfect mixture of ignorance and vulgarity!!!”
She also tweeted in Hindi to emphasize her point further, stating, “हिंदुस्तान में पत्रकारिता का स्तर कितना गिरा हुआ है ये हैडलाइन और ये आर्टिकल दर्शाता है- इंटरव्यू में फ़हाद मज़ाक़िया अन्दाज़ में कहते हैं कि हमारी हर सामाजिक पहचान अलग है सिवाये ये कि हमारी “सेक्सुअल ओरिएंटेशन” एक ही है- अर्थात् दोनों cis gender हिटरोसेक्सुअल (heterosexual) हैं…”
The couple, Swara Bhasker and Fahad Ahmad, entered marital bliss in February 2023 under the Special Marriage Act.
. Later that year, in September, they celebrated the arrival of their baby girl, Raabiyaa, marking another beautiful chapter in their lives. The erroneous headlines and misinterpretation of Fahad’s words presented an unwarranted disruption to their personal lives.
On the professional front, Swara Bhasker continues to make waves in the film industry. She recently completed filming for her upcoming movie, “Mrs Falani.” The film, based on eight distinct narratives, showcases Bhasker in eight disparate roles, encapsulating characters from various regions, each speaking different dialects and donning unique attires. This ambitious project sees Bhasker portraying homemakers from different states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, among others. Committed to her craft, Bhasker even went to the extent of getting her nose pierced for one of the roles in the film.
Produced by ‘Three Arrows’ and ‘Sita Films’, “Mrs Falani” promises to be an intriguing cinematic experience, with the release date announcement eagerly awaited by fans.
Despite the unwarranted attention from misleading media reports, Swara Bhasker maintains her focus on her flourishing career and her family. Her forthright stance against journalistic irresponsibility underscores the frustrations many public figures face when their words are spun out of context for sensationalist purposes. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for responsible journalism, one that respects personal boundaries and upholds the integrity of its subjects.
By addressing the misrepresentation head-on, Bhasker not only protected her and her husband’s reputations but also initiated a broader conversation about the state of journalism today. Her resolve and straightforwardness continue to resonate with her supporters, further solidifying her reputation as an outspoken and resilient figure in the entertainment industry. This episode once again reinforces the importance of accuracy and respect in media reporting, an ethic that should be at the heart of all journalistic endeavors.
