Farah Khan, a Bollywood filmmaker and choreographer, is facing controversy because of her offensive remarks on the festival of Holi that caused outrage on social media considering the remarks were made during her culinary show, Celebrity MasterChef 2025.
“Chhapri logo ka favourite festival hota hai Holi,” which loosely translates as “Holi is the favorite festival of uncultured men,” was the exact phrase she uttered which set off a barrage of criticisms against her for being disrespectful to Hindu traditions and more broadly, making a mockery of the festival.
Social Media Divide Over Farah Khan’s Remark
The statement sparked fiery debates across all platforms including Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram. The majority condemned Farah for supposedly insulting a Hindu festival; questions then arose as to whether she would have made a similar comment about Eid, or for that matter any other religious festivals.
“This was in bad taste for no reason at all. Demeaning Hindu festivals has become a norm, and this is just another woke celebrity taking another step in that direction,” read one of the comments on Reddit.
Another stated, “If someone made such a comment about Eid, there would be a massive outrage. But when it’s about a Hindu festival, it’s seen as acceptable.”
Several critics also pointed out that Holi festivals are celebrated around the globe, with tourist footfalls from all corners of the earth, and opined that Farah has not done justice to the significance and vibration of the festival.
Supporters Defend Farah Khan’s Statement
While there was a great deal of outrage against Farah’s comment, there were some who sided with her on social media, particularly women from the Hindu community, saying she was calling out the harassment and the bladder-behavior of men inappropriately carried out during Holi, not the festival itself.
“Sne’s not condemning the festival or the religion. She’s speaking about those men who use Holi as an excuse to harass/molest women,” said one user.
Another added, “As a woman and a devout Hindu, I support Farah. We all know at least one woman who has faced harassment on Holi. This isn’t about religion, it’s about women’s safety.”
Some have argued that Farah did not persecute the festival directly but condemned its ill traditions. “She didn’t say Holi is a Chhapri festival. She’s referring to the way some men misbehave under the pretext of celebration,” said another comment.
A Controversy that Bears a Cultural Division Larger than That
Farah Khan, married to filmmaker Shirish Kunder, has yet to make any formal acknowledgment of the scandals hurled in her direction. The incident builds upon a larger platform for the discourse of freedom of speech, religious sentiments, and the present-day questions of women safety during festivals.
Some see an insult to Hindu traditions in her statement while others would view it as a legitimate criticism of wrongs feigned as celebrations. The controversy serves, on the other hand, to divide opinions and initiate debates on where we ought to draw the line between cultural respect and social commentary.
