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Gabriella Demetriades Defends Arjun Rampal After 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' Row

The dispute shows a patriotic slogan serving as a cultural litmus test in Bollywood.

Overview

  • Arjun Rampal closed a HELLO! Hall of Fame Awards speech with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” a patriotic chant in India, drawing a critical column from Shobhaa De in The Print.
  • Gabriella Demetriades, Rampal’s partner, pushed back in public comments and called De’s take “outrageous.”
  • In the same remarks, Rampal linked his performance in Dhurandhar: The Revenge to witnessing the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which he said left a lasting mark on him.
  • The film continued a strong theatrical run during the exchange, with multiple outlets reporting a robust global box office.
  • Coverage reflected different priorities, with Times of India highlighting defenses of Rampal, De warning about ideological messaging in the industry, and EasternEye focusing on the movie’s commercial pull.