YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee recently found himself at the center of an online controversy after using a before-and-after image of Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor as the thumbnail for his video discussing “fake beauty” and cosmetic procedures. The choice of visual quickly sparked intense debate across social media platforms.

Several users accused Rathee of deliberately singling out Janhvi Kapoor, especially since the video was uploaded shortly after the actress shared an Instagram post condemning the reported lynching of Bangladeshi Hindus. The timing led some netizens to speculate that the video was a subtle response to her political stance, further escalating the backlash.

Responding to the criticism, Dhruv Rathee released a clarification video in which he dismissed the allegations and urged viewers to verify facts before drawing conclusions. He explained that it would be unrealistic to conceptualize, edit, and publish such a detailed video within half an hour of Janhvi’s social media post, calling the accusations illogical.

Rathee emphasized that the video was not intended to mock or target any individual. Instead, he said it aimed to address the broader societal pressure surrounding beauty standards and the stigma often associated with cosmetic procedures. He reiterated that the discussion was issue-based and not personality-driven.

He also rejected claims of indirectly criticizing Janhvi Kapoor, stating that his work has no connection to Bollywood and that he does not engage with or feel influenced by the film industry. To underline his point, Rathee remarked that he neither fears Janhvi Kapoor nor her father, actor Boney Kapoor.

As of now, Janhvi Kapoor has not responded to the controversy. Meanwhile, online reactions remain divided—while some viewers have supported Rathee’s explanation, others continue to question his choice of thumbnail and timing.