NEW DELHI: A 2009 comment by Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor referring to fellow star Aishwarya Rai as “auntie” has resurfaced on social media, reigniting debate nearly two decades later.
According to Indian media reports, the controversy originally began when Sonam Kapoor replaced Aishwarya Rai as the brand ambassador for an international cosmetics company.
Around that time, a video clip and attributed remarks referring to Rai as “auntie” circulated widely online, triggering criticism and accusations of age-shaming.
At the time, Sonam Kapoor reportedly clarified in an interview that her comments were meant in a respectful, traditional sense, noting that Aishwarya Rai had worked with her father, actor Anil Kapoor, in several films, and therefore she referred to her respectfully.
However, as the controversy grew, Kapoor later distanced herself from the statement, denying she had intended any disrespect and saying she always held Rai in high regard.
The resurfaced clip has once again sparked discussion on social media, although it remains unclear why the issue has regained traction after so many years.