“Bollywood Celebrities Itne Darpok Hain”: Dhruv Rathee Slams Priyanka Chopra Over Oscars Moment, Calls Her Silence “Privilege”
Dhruv Rathee posted a video criticising Priyanka Chopra’s reaction to Javier Bardem’s statement at Oscars 2026.
The glitz and glamour of the 2026 Academy Awards have been overshadowed by a brewing controversy involving global sensation Priyanka Chopra Jonas and outspoken political commentator Dhruv Rathee. While the Oscars are typically celebrated for cinematic achievements, this year’s ceremony has sparked a heated debate regarding the moral responsibilities of celebrities on the world stage. The controversy began during the presentation of the award for Best International Feature Film. Priyanka Chopra took the stage alongside actor Javier Bardem to announce the winner.
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Javier Bardem, who was seen sporting a ‘No to War’ pin on his tuxedo, took a moment before reading the envelope to state clearly, “No to war and Free Palestine”. While Priyanka Chopra, standing directly beside him, was seen nodding along to his sentiment, she remained silent and did not offer a verbal statement of her own. The duo then proceeded to announce the Norwegian film ‘Sentimental Value’ as the winner.
The moment immediately went viral, drawing polarized reactions across social media. However, it was content creator Dhruv Rathee who levelled the most pointed criticism at the ‘Citadel’ star. Taking to Instagram, Dhruv Rathee posted a detailed video captioned “Priyanka Chopra's reaction at Oscars and Neutrality,” in which he dissected Priyanka’s demeanour and the broader culture of silence in the Indian film industry.
Check out Dhruv Rathee’s Instagram post below:
In his video, Dhruv Rathee did not mince words, describing Priyanka Chopra’s expression as “worth seeing” and addressing those who might defend her choice to stay “apolitical”.
In the video, he said, “Iss video ko dekho.. Priyanka Chopra ki shakal yahan par dekhne layak thi… Aap mein se kuch log shayad pucho ke galat kya kiya unhone woh chup rahi waha par, neutral rahi, political nahi hona chahati thi… Lekin yeh hi toh dikat hai. Neutrality ki jo position hai woh ek position of privilege hai.”
To illustrate his point, Dhruv Rathee used a geographical analogy. He explained that if bombs are not falling on one’s home, it is easy to claim neutrality. He compared this to countries like New Zealand or Iceland, which are geographically removed from conflicts like the Israel-Iran war. However, he argued that true humanity is defined by those who, despite being in a safe position, choose to stand on the side of what is right.
Dhruv Rathee’s critique took a sharper turn when he brought up Priyanka Chopra’s long-standing association with the United Nations, reminding everyone that she is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
The commentator also used the incident as a springboard to criticise the wider Bollywood fraternity. He contrasted the activism of Hollywood stars – who often use their platforms to take moral stands despite their privilege – with what he perceives as cowardice within the Indian industry.
“Aise hi yeh Hollywood stars yeh position of privilege mein hain. Inke gharon pe bomb nahi gir rahe hain lekin phir bhi woh ek moral stand le rahe hain… Yeh badi unfortunate cheez hai ke humare zyadatar top Bollywood celebrities itne darpok hain ya selfish hai ki ek simple sa moral stand lene se pehle hi yeh 100 baar sochenge ke humare power mein jo baithe hue log hain unke saath connection toh affect nahi ho jayenge, humari film par iska kya asar hoga, humari sponsorship aur humari earning pe iska kya asar padega. Aur phir 100 baar apni PR teams se puchne ke baad ek PR statement denge,” Dhruv said.
Since the broadcast, the internet has been split. Supporters of Priyanka Chopra argue that as a presenter at a global event, she was maintaining professional decorum and that her nodding was a sufficient sign of solidarity. Others, however, have echoed Dhruv Rathee’s sentiments, suggesting that global icons with massive platforms have a duty to speak up during humanitarian crises.
As of now, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has not issued a formal response to the viral buzz or Dhruv Rathee’s remarks.
