Actor Suniel Shetty continues to face online criticism days after his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 15-month-old granddaughter, Evaarah, triggered a political and social media debate. The controversy has intensified after leaders from both the BJP and Congress weighed in, while many users questioned why a toddler had become part of a political discussion.
During a recent interview, Shetty said his granddaughter recognises Prime Minister Modi’s photograph in a Sai Baba book and offers him a laddoo every morning. He described the gesture as spontaneous and added that he had never encouraged her to do so, saying there was “something magical” about the Prime Minister.
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The clip quickly went viral across social media platforms. While some users appreciated the actor’s admiration for Modi, others accused him of excessive praise. Several critics also expressed concern over a young child being drawn into a politically charged conversation.
The controversy escalated after the Kerala Congress shared the video on X, describing Shetty’s comments as “Padma-grade sycophancy” and suggesting that the actor was seeking recognition from the Centre. The post attracted thousands of reactions, with users offering sharply divided opinions.
Defending the actor, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of hypocrisy. He pointed out that Shetty had previously received the Rajiv Gandhi Award from the Mumbai Youth Congress in 2005 and questioned why the actor was now being criticised for expressing admiration for the Prime Minister. Bhandari also alleged that the Congress was intolerant of differing political views.
Despite the political exchanges, many social media users have argued that criticism should not extend to Shetty’s granddaughter. They said children should remain outside political disputes regardless of ideological differences. Even days after the interview surfaced, the debate continues online, with Shetty’s comments and the reactions to them remaining at the centre of the controversy.
