In an intriguing turn of social media missteps, Bollywood’s ebullient star Ranveer Singh found himself at the epicenter of online trolling when he errantly used a picture of the Maldives in a bid to promote Indian island tourism. The actor, known for his vibrant persona and energetic performances, inadvertently shared the foreign image while championing a national campaign on the platform X, which once went by the name of Twitter.
Ranveer Singh’s enthusiastic post burst forth with a call to action for the year 2024, encouraging fans to dive into the riches of Indian culture and its breathtaking coastal beauty. His words rang with patriotic charm: “This year let’s make 2024 about exploring India and experiencing our culture. There is so much to see and explore across the beaches and the beauty of our country. Chalo India let’s #exploreindianislands. Chalo bharat dekhe.” His accompanying choice of a visual, however, showcased the Maldives instead of an Indian locale.
Despite the actor’s swift move to delete the post, vigilant netizens captured the oversight through screenshots before it could vanish into digital obscurity. The ‘Ram Leela’ star found himself on the receiving end of relentless mockery facilitated by the inescapable reach of social media.
Singh’s blunder occurs amidst heightening tensions between India and the Maldives. The strain emerged from derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Lakshadweep by some Maldivian political figures. The controversy had already inflamed sentiments, when notable celebrities from the Indian film industry, including Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, and John Abraham, launched the visit Lakshadweep campaign, imbued with the hashtag #exploreindianislands, urging holidaymakers to revel in the natural splendors of Indian shores.
The diplomatic tiff was accentuated last week as the Maldives deputy minister, accompanied by members of the government and officials, expressed distasteful comments towards PM Modi’s visit to the picturesque Lakshadweep archipelago. In a counteractive gesture, the Indian premier shared images on X that captured the quintessential allure of Lakshadweep’s white sands, azure skies, and clear waters, suggesting the islands as a must-visit destination for the adventurous souls.
Adding fuel to the fire of discord, a now-deleted post from Shiuna, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, showcased blatant disrespect towards PM Modi. The Maldives government, aiming to mitigate the backlash, formally disassociated itself from these contumelious remarks. It was left to Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer to convey the official stance, denouncing the publicization of such comments against a foreign leader as “unacceptable.” Zameer further emphasized the Maldives’ commitment to maintaining positive, constructive engagement with its regional and international partners.
Caught between diplomatic squabbles and social media errors, the incident has highlighted both the power of digital platforms to connect and the pitfalls that come with the territory of instant communication. While Singh’s misstep may be unlikely to leave an indelible blemish on his gleaming career, it does serve as a reminder of the meticulous scrutiny public figures face in the public domain and the unyielding memory of the internet. In a world increasingly driven by online representations, a single click can become either an instant promotion or an unanticipated gaffe, proving that even stars are not immune to the tides of the digital age.
(with inputs from ANI)
