Swara Bhasker has once again found herself in the spotlight, this time for defending her husband, Fahad Ahmad, against online trolls. The actress, known for her outspoken nature, shut down critics who questioned why Fahad chose not to participate in Holi celebrations. She took to social media to respond to the negativity and offered a gentle reminder about the essence of celebrating festivals without forcing participation.
The controversy started when Swara shared glimpses of her Holi celebrations with her family on Instagram. The pictures captured a joyful moment, showing Swara, her husband Fahad Ahmad, and their daughter Rabiya embracing the spirit of the festival. Swara and Rabiya’s faces were smeared with vibrant Holi colours, but Fahad stood out as he did not have any colours on him. It appeared that he did not play Holi as he was fasting for Ramazan, but that did not stop a section of social media users from trolling the couple. Many took to the comments to criticize Fahad for not playing Holi, implying that his lack of participation was an issue.
One comment read, “Why didn’t your husband apply colours?” while another stated, “Blind devotee’s question: Why didn’t your husband play Holi?” Some users went as far as to question the balance in their interfaith relationship. One wrote, “Your husband not playing colours says a lot,” while another remarked, “You say it is possible to celebrate the festival without forcing people to participate. If you people (your husband) respect each other’s faiths and really love you, they will participate in your festivals happily. You don’t have to ask or force. If participation becomes one-sided, that’s the issue.”
Unwilling to let such remarks slide, Swara clapped back at the trolls. She re-shared the Holi pictures on her Instagram stories, adding a strong yet composed response. She wrote, “Happy Holi ya’ll! Gentle reminder: it’s possible to celebrate our festivals and share joy WITHOUT forcing people to participate.” With this statement, she made it clear that celebrating festivals should be about happiness and respect rather than coercion.
Swara Bhasker has always been vocal about her beliefs, often standing up for inclusivity and mutual respect in relationships. She married Fahad Ahmad, a student activist and politician, in February 2023. Their wedding, an interfaith union, was met with both praise and criticism. In September that year, they welcomed their daughter, Rabiya, adding another chapter to their life together. Fahad, who was initially a member of the Samajwadi Party, later joined the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) and contested the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 from the Anushakti Nagar constituency in Mumbai South-Central.
Meanwhile, Swara, who has made a mark in the film industry with her bold choices, was last seen in the 2022 films Jahaan Chaar Yaar and Mimansa. She is set to return to the screen with Mrs Falani, though the release date for the film has not yet been announced.
This is not the first time Swara has had to defend her personal life from public scrutiny. Given her strong opinions and active political stance, she often faces online backlash. However, she continues to assert her views fearlessly, proving once again that she will not bow down to social media bullying. The Holi controversy is just another instance where she stood her ground, reminding people that love and respect in relationships should not be dictated by public opinion.