Janhvi Kapoor reacts on the flak she received for 'Gandhi vs Ambedkar debate' remark: "I panicked...."

Janhvi Kapoor recently found herself at the center of a social media storm after expressing a desire to see a debate between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. This remark, made during an interview, sparked significant reactions online, with many accusing her of staging a PR stunt. However, the reality of the situation, as Janhvi revealed in a chat with Mashable India, was quite different.

Janhvi shared that she and her PR team were initially unsure about how her comment would be received. "I was shocked at the way people reacted," she said. "Is it so hard to believe that a young female actress can have an opinion?" The irony, she noted, was that many assumed her statement was crafted by her PR team, when in fact, they were quite apprehensive about it.

“I made the comment in conversation. After the interview, I asked my PR team if I had said something wrong. They mentioned that this particular statement might attract attention but advised to wait and see,” Janhvi recounted. “The next day, I started panicking. My PR team also became anxious and wanted to edit out that part. We didn’t want any unwanted attention just before the film’s release, but the publication refused to cut it.” This, she pointed out, was the true irony: while people thought she was trained by her PR, her team was actually trying to mitigate potential backlash.

Janhvi further explained that her interest in the topic stemmed from conversations with filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan. “Spending time with Neeraj and hearing about his experiences sparked a curiosity in me. I realized I knew very little about caste discrimination, despite living on Ambedkar Road,” she said. 

This led her to read Ambedkar’s book, "Annihilation of Caste," which she described as a transformative experience. “Reading this book has changed me quite a bit. It made me realize how ingrained classism and casteism are in our society, and how little we talk about it. We should be ashamed of ourselves,” she added.

Despite the controversy, Janhvi is focused on her career and is currently promoting her next film, "Ulajh." Her journey of self-discovery and her candidness about her learning process have resonated with many, adding depth to her public persona.