Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra has sparked a major controversy after making harsh comments about social media influencers at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. His remarks targeted influencers and the growing trend of casting actors based on follower counts. The clip went viral within hours and set off a heated debate online.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra Mocks Social Media Influencers
During the session, Chopra criticised how casting directors look at social media numbers. He mocked influencers for gaining attention through curated photos and online engagement. He said, “Kya word use kar sakta hun… Ch****a hain… Woh net pe jaake aisa khada hota hai.. 5 million hogaya. Waise khada hota hai 10 million hogaya, 20 million ho gaya.”
The audience reacted with shock as he questioned the credibility of influencers who rise to fame through follower metrics.
Chopra then spoke about brands choosing influencers for promotions. He added, “Usko lagta hai ke man baap hun and brands go to that fellow and aya baap humara product bechdo… Woh phir khada ho jaata hai .. what the f**k is going on?”
He also told the audience to think about what matters in life. “You as an individual have to choose whether you want to be that or you want to really strive for happiness and joy.”
12th Fail Producer Receives Backlash For His Distasteful Comments
His comments spread quickly on social media. Many users said the filmmaker crossed a line by using abusive language. They argued that mocking an entire profession was disrespectful, especially at a respected event like IFFI. They also pointed out that influencers build their careers through consistency and hard work.
However, some viewers agreed with Chopra. They said his comments showed the problem of choosing actors based on numbers instead of talent.
Influencers also reacted strongly. Shray Rai Tiwari replied with sarcasm and wrote, “Kya word hai, sir. So much elegance. So profound. Truly remarkable. You are so damn right, they are not happy. You seem so happy. More power to you and your nuanced language.”
Influencer Simarjeet Singh Nagra raised a question about the industry itself. He wrote, “And the Director / Casting Directors Who Are Choosing These Type of Influencers … Woh kya hae?”
A digital creator wrote, “Sir ji yeh chiz jake casting directors ko samjhaye maze lene keliye commenting is good. Sunne mein kitna acha lagraha hai, I wish reality bhi wesi hoti.”
Podcaster Divyanshu Agrawal added that he prefers creators who do meaningful collaborations over actors who promote harmful products or use paid PR.
Many influencers called his remarks abusive and outdated. The debate continues online as people argue over whether he was calling out a real issue or simply being judgemental to a new generation of digital creators.
