A few years ago, Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha made headlines for struggling to answer a question related to the epic Ramayana during her appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati. The question pertained to Sanjeevani Booti and left Sonakshi in a tough spot, leading her to use a lifeline.
Mukesh Khanna blames her upbringing
The incident has been reignited recently after veteran actor Mukesh Khanna shared his thoughts during an interview. In his statement, Mukesh Khanna criticised modern upbringing and emphasised the importance of instilling Indian cultural values in children. He remarked, “People were angry that Sonakshi didn’t know this, but I would say it’s not her fault, it’s her father’s fault. Why didn’t they teach their children this? Why did they become so modern? If I were Shaktimaan today, I would make kids sit down and teach them about Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma.”
This comment did not sit well with Sonakshi, who took to her Instagram stories to address Mukesh Khanna’s remarks. Sharing a strongly worded yet composed response, Sonakshi defended herself and her family. She pointed out that Mukesh Khanna had singled her out, despite there being two contestants on the hot seat who also did not know the answer. Sonakshi wrote, “Dear Sir, Mukesh Khanna ji… I recently read a statement you made saying that it’s my father’s fault I did not answer a question about the Ramayana correctly on a show I attended many, many years back. Yes I may have blanked out that day, a human tendency. But clearly, you have also forgotten some of the lessons of forgive and forget taught by Lord Ram himself.”
She concluded her statement by urging Mukesh Khanna to stop bringing up the incident and targeting her family, adding: “The next time you decide to say anything about the values my father has instilled in me, remember it’s because of those values that I have only said what I said, very respectfully.”
Netizens React: Trolls Resurface
While Sonakshi’s response garnered support from her fans, the internet was quick to react, with trolls aiming at her yet again. Many criticised her Instagram story, claiming it to be the work of her PR team to salvage her image. Others brought up the irony that Sonakshi’s family house name is Ramayana, with her father Shatrughan Sinha and his brothers being named after characters from the epic. Moreover, her brothers, Luv and Kush, are also named after Lord Ram’s sons. Netizens questioned how, despite this deep connection, Sonakshi was unable to answer a basic question about the epic. Comments such as “Her house is called Ramayana, but she didn’t know the answer? This is hilarious,” and “PR story or damage control? The internet never forgets,” flooded social media. Others mocked the actress for bringing the issue back into the spotlight instead of letting it fade.
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