Ranbir Kapoor with Mahira Khan in New York (Image courtesy: )
New Delhi:
A picture of actor Ranbir Kapoor with Pakistani actress Mahira Khan chilling together on the streets of New York went crazy viral last month. The picture prompted dating rumours and they were also trolled for multiple reasons (including smoking). Soon after the pictures went viral, Ranbir's actor dad Rishi Kapoor said that his son 'can meet any girl of his choice.' Rumours of Ranbir dating Mahira have been doing the rounds ever since the duo were spotted together at the Global Teacher Prize event in March. Now, weeks after their pictures went viral, Rishi Kapoor, 65, tweeted, "He is being honest. Media just going aboard. Don't worry boy, I am with you YO!" with a photo of Ranbir.
"You see, Ranbir is a young star, he is unmarried, he's a bachelor. He can meet anybody whoever he wants to, and if people are going to invade in his privacy, it's not done. And I can't say anything about all this because he's a young man and he has the choice of meeting any girl. How do we know that here's something more to this picture? He could have met her just outside there. They must have been in a restaurant or a place where they cannot smoke, that's why they are smoking outside. In US, they have really strict rules that don't allow smoking in public places. I can't say anything more because I don't know anything more than that," Rishi Kapoor had earlier told Hindustan Times.
Here are the pictures which went viral.
Mahira was severely trolled for wearing a short dress and smoking on the streets. "Mahira Khan totally ruined her decent image with this. So disappointed," read a tweet.
Later, Ranbir, who isn't on social media, issued a statement regarding their viral picture and lent his support to Mahira. "I've gotten to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months. She is somebody who I admire and respect, for her achievements and even more for the person she is. It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives. Peace and love," read his statement. "PS: Both smoking and hate are injurious to health," he added.
Celebrities such as Ali Zafar, Parineeti Chopra and Varun Dhawan also supported Mahira. "I'll just say one line. It's a little unfair. Everybody knows it's unfair and it'll stop. Today, because of social media, everything becomes too big a deal," said Parineeti while Varun Dhawan told the press, "Shame on them for shaming her."
Pakistani actor Ali Zafar posted this on Instagram.
Mahira Khan debuted in Bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan's Raees. Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Jagga Jasoos, opposite ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif. His next releases are - Sanjay Dutt biopic and an untitled film opposite Alia Bhatt.
"You see, Ranbir is a young star, he is unmarried, he's a bachelor. He can meet anybody whoever he wants to, and if people are going to invade in his privacy, it's not done. And I can't say anything about all this because he's a young man and he has the choice of meeting any girl. How do we know that here's something more to this picture? He could have met her just outside there. They must have been in a restaurant or a place where they cannot smoke, that's why they are smoking outside. In US, they have really strict rules that don't allow smoking in public places. I can't say anything more because I don't know anything more than that," Rishi Kapoor had earlier told Hindustan Times.
Here are the pictures which went viral.
Mahira was severely trolled for wearing a short dress and smoking on the streets. "Mahira Khan totally ruined her decent image with this. So disappointed," read a tweet.
Later, Ranbir, who isn't on social media, issued a statement regarding their viral picture and lent his support to Mahira. "I've gotten to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months. She is somebody who I admire and respect, for her achievements and even more for the person she is. It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives. Peace and love," read his statement. "PS: Both smoking and hate are injurious to health," he added.
Celebrities such as Ali Zafar, Parineeti Chopra and Varun Dhawan also supported Mahira. "I'll just say one line. It's a little unfair. Everybody knows it's unfair and it'll stop. Today, because of social media, everything becomes too big a deal," said Parineeti while Varun Dhawan told the press, "Shame on them for shaming her."
Pakistani actor Ali Zafar posted this on Instagram.
Mahira Khan debuted in Bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan's Raees. Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Jagga Jasoos, opposite ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif. His next releases are - Sanjay Dutt biopic and an untitled film opposite Alia Bhatt.