Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has sparked a fresh conversation about the dark side of social media, warning that it is actively destroying the careers of actors who have barely found their footing in the industry.
His comments, posted on X, came in the wake of the online backlash surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal in Ram Charan’s blockbuster sports drama Peddi, which released on June 4, 2026. Despite breaking box office records on its first day, the film quickly became mired in controversy when clips went viral on social media — sparking heated debate over the portrayal of Kapoor’s character, Achiyamma.
Without directly naming Janhvi Kapoor, Gupta took to X to voice his concerns. “Social Media is literally destroying careers of actors that have hardly taken off. They are facing a ruthless & unforgiving world. They need to realise just how very careful they need to be with their choices. The audience is judge, jury and algorithm,” he wrote.
It is a striking observation, and one that resonates far beyond this single controversy. The backlash over Peddi contributed to a broader debate on the representation and framing of female characters in mainstream cinema — and ultimately forced director Buchi Babu Sana to publicly apologise and announce edits to the disputed scenes.
Gupta’s warning reflects a growing reality in the Indian film industry: social media has fundamentally shifted the power dynamic between audiences and artists. A single viral clip or trending hashtag can overshadow years of work, reducing an actor’s complex body of craft to a moment of controversy. For younger actors still building their reputations, the stakes are even higher.
Janhvi Kapoor herself has previously spoken about this, saying that social media has “singlehandedly contributed to the complete derailment of human morality,” drawing from her own painful experience of watching deeply personal moments in her life become fodder for online ridicule.
This is not the first time Gupta has spoken up on industry matters lately. He recently also criticised FWICE’s decision to ban Ranveer Singh in connection with the Don 3 dispute, proving he is not shy about weighing in on difficult conversations.
His central message, however, is a simple but sobering one: in today’s digital age, one wrong choice — real or perceived — can follow a young actor forever. The algorithm does not forget.
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