Deepika Padukone loses cool at airport: How Dua's viral video sparked a privacy debate?

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, one of Bollywood’s most adored couples, have always been fiercely protective about their personal life, especially when it comes to their daughter, Dua. But a recent incident at Mumbai International Airport has sparked a storm online and left Deepika visibly upset.

The viral airport video

A video has been making the rounds on Reddit and other social media platforms, showing Deepika traveling in a buggy with her one-year-old daughter sitting on her lap. The clip, filmed without consent by a fan, revealed Dua’s face for the first time to the public. In the video, Deepika is seen sternly asking the person recording to stop, but by then, the moment had already been captured and circulated online. Fans were quick to react, calling the video a blatant invasion of privacy. Many urged social media pages to delete it, with comments like, “Please take this down. The couple has always requested not to share Dua’s pictures.” Another fan pointed out, “This is not right if the parents haven’t given permission. It’s completely disrespectful.”

As the video continued to go viral, Deepika’s team reportedly issued a statement asking media platforms and fan accounts not to share pictures or videos revealing Dua’s face. They emphasized that the couple has consistently requested privacy for their child and expect that to be respected.

Ranveer and Deepika’s earlier gesture to paparazzi

Interestingly, this controversy comes just months after Deepika and Ranveer invited paparazzi to their home for an informal meet-and-greet. On that occasion, they introduced Dua to them in person but made a clear request: no photos should be clicked or circulated. Ranveer, dressed in white, and Deepika, in a beige gown, even posed for the cameras together, offering the media a warm moment while drawing the line firmly around their daughter’s privacy. One paparazzi account that attended the gathering shared videos of the couple, gushing over the little one while respecting the no-photo rule. Ranveer was even spotted planting a kiss on Deepika’s cheek, giving fans a glimpse of their family’s warmth without compromising Dua’s safety.

A growing trend among Bollywood parents

Deepika and Ranveer are not the only celebrity parents to take this stand. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor followed a similar path after initially revealing their daughter Raha at a Christmas gathering. Soon after, they requested both paparazzi and fan pages to refrain from sharing her pictures, citing safety concerns. This became more serious after an unfortunate stabbing incident involving Saif Ali Khan, which made many star families reconsider how exposed their children should be.

Priyanka Chopra, too, has shifted gears when it comes to her daughter Malti. While she initially shared Malti’s face openly on social media, she now prefers to cover it with emojis or keep her away from media glare entirely. This shift shows a broader change in how global celebrities approach their children’s right to privacy in an age of constant exposure.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot in 2018 in a grand ceremony at Lake Como, Italy. Their daughter Dua was born on September 8, 2024, and her name was introduced during Diwali with a heartfelt note: “Dua: meaning a prayer. Because she is the answer to our prayers.”

Though the couple has shared little about her publicly, their approach has been clear, they want to introduce Dua to the world on their own terms, not through unsolicited videos or leaks.

On the work front, Ranveer Singh has an exciting lineup ahead with Dhurandhar, slated for release on December 6, followed by the much-anticipated Don 3. Deepika, after a short maternity break, is gearing up for Atlee’s next film opposite Allu Arjun, marking one of the biggest collaborations in Indian cinema. Meanwhile, for Deepika and Ranveer, Dua remains their biggest blessing, and protecting her from the media glare seems to be their top priority.