Janhvi Kapoor recently stirred up online discussion with her remark about the potential interest of a debate between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. Following the comment, Janhvi revealed that her PR team suggested removing this part of her interview due to concerns about public reaction. She admitted to feeling “panicked” and uncertain about how her statement would be received.
In an interview with Mashable India, Janhvi expressed surprise at the intense reactions to her comment, questioning, “Is it so hard to believe that a young actress can have an opinion?” She highlighted the “irony” of the situation, noting that many believed her statement was PR-trained when, in fact, it was her team that was eager to have it removed. “The irony is that my PR team was actually quite anxious and wanted to cut it out, but people thought I was coached to make that statement,” she explained.
Janhvi recounted how, after the interview, she was concerned about the impact of her comment as her film’s release approached. Her PR team shared her anxiety, but the publication ultimately decided not to edit out her statement.
The actress also shared her recent engagement with filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, which sparked her interest in learning more about caste discrimination. “His experiences made me realize how little I knew about my own culture and society, despite living on Ambedkar Road. It made me feel ashamed and motivated me to read Ambedkar’s *Annihilation of Caste*,” she said.
Janhvi revealed that reading the book has had a profound impact on her, prompting her to reassess her surroundings and acknowledge the deep-seated classism and casteism in society. “This is such a crucial part of our society, and yet we often overlook it. We need to confront these issues and hold ourselves accountable,” she concluded.
