Hrithik Roshan Weighs In On Bansuri Swaraj's Bizarre Vande Mataram Challenge To Congress

Actor Hrithik Roshan has reacted to a video of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj in which she challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to recite the full version of “Vande Mataram” if he genuinely wanted to “smash the patriarchy”. The video, which was originally recorded several weeks ago, resurfaced on social media and drew Hrithik’s attention. Reacting to a post containing the clip, the actor wrote, “Huh? Is this real. Wow,” prompting renewed discussion around the political exchange. His brief response has since attracted considerable attention online, although Hrithik did not elaborate on what specifically prompted the reaction. The original remarks were made by Swaraj while responding to a discussion involving Gandhi and his comments on patriarchy.

Gandhi had spoken about the need to challenge patriarchal attitudes and argued that women should not be restricted to traditional identities and roles. During his remarks, he called for a broader effort to dismantle systems and social attitudes that he said limited women’s freedom and opportunities. He also referred to the Manusmriti while discussing historical and social attitudes towards women, making patriarchy a central theme of his address. Swaraj subsequently responded to Gandhi’s remarks at a public programme in Pune. In her comments, she questioned the connection between his call to “smash the patriarchy” and his broader political position. She said she was willing to participate in different cultural and religious traditions, including singing Christmas carols, reciting the Shiv Tandav and singing “Vande Mataram” in its entirety.

She then challenged Gandhi to sing the complete version of the national song if he genuinely wanted to challenge patriarchy. Her remarks were captured on video and later circulated widely on social media. The clip received renewed attention after Congress social media leader Ruchira Chaturvedi shared it on Instagram. Hrithik commented on the post with the short reaction, “Huh? Is this real. Wow.” The actor did not explain whether his comment was directed at Swaraj’s challenge, the reference to “Vande Mataram”, the wider political debate or the manner in which the two issues were connected. The lack of a longer explanation has left the meaning of his response open to interpretation, while the comment itself generated further discussion among social media users.

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Hrithik’s reaction also brought fresh attention to the wider debate over the phrase “smash the patriarchy”, which has become a prominent expression in discussions about gender equality, social structures and women’s rights. Gandhi has used the phrase in the context of his criticism of patriarchal systems, while Swaraj’s response placed the discussion within a political and cultural framework involving “Vande Mataram”. The two remarks address different aspects of the debate, with Gandhi focusing on gender and social structures and Swaraj responding through a political challenge centred on the national song. “Vande Mataram” itself has a long history in India’s freedom movement and occupies an important place in the country’s cultural and political discourse.

The song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, became associated with the nationalist movement during British rule. Its use at public and political events has continued after Independence, and discussions around its full version, public singing and historical significance have periodically become subjects of political debate. That background has contributed to the attention surrounding Swaraj’s remarks and the subsequent reaction to them.

Hrithik’s comment also prompted a range of responses from social media users. According to reports, the comment received thousands of likes and numerous replies, with users debating both the original remarks and the actor’s response. Some commenters brought Hrithik’s film characters into the discussion, while others focused on the political figures involved.

The actor, however, did not engage in an extended exchange or provide additional clarification about his comment. The latest development has therefore revived a political exchange that had initially taken place several weeks earlier. Swaraj’s remarks were made in response to Gandhi’s discussion of patriarchy, while Hrithik’s subsequent comment brought the video to the attention of a wider online audience. His brief reaction does not by itself establish a broader political position on the issue. For now, the episode remains centred on Swaraj’s “Vande Mataram” challenge, Gandhi’s comments on patriarchy and Hrithik’s unexpected response after the older video resurfaced online.

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