A fresh controversy has erupted in Bollywood after actor Varun Dhawan found himself at the centre of an online debate sparked by influencer Simran Bhat. The issue centers on alleged “fake reviews” for his upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, and it has quickly gained traction on social media.
The row began when Simran Bhat shared a video on Instagram claiming she was asked to provide fake reviews of the film
Simran shared a video recounting an unusual experience at a Delhi metro station. According to her, two individuals approached her and asked her to record a reaction video reviewing the film’s teaser, even though she had not watched it.
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She further claimed that the individuals were persistent and even offered to guide her on what to say, raising questions about the authenticity of promotional tactics. In her video, she openly questioned whether such practices indicated that the film needed “manufactured hype” to generate buzz.
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Here is the video
View this post on Instagram
The video quickly went viral, with many users debating whether fake or scripted reviews are becoming a common part of film promotions.
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Varun Dhawan Hit Back And Reacted To The Allegations
Reacting to the allegations, Varun Dhawan responded directly in the comments section of the influencer’s post. Without getting into a detailed explanation, the actor wrote,
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“Hope you get the views you really want with this video.”
His response added fuel to the conversation, with social media users divided over the exchange. While some supported the actor and dismissed the claims as exaggerated, others felt the influencer had raised a valid concern about transparency in promotions.
Simran, however, stood her ground and replied that she did not need to rely on controversy to gain views.
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Simran responded,
“@varundvn Sir with due respect I don’t need to do these kinds of things for views. I already am satisfied with my numbers…”
She also reposted his comment on her Instagram Stories, saying,
“With due respect I’m already getting good views and Tbh I’m satisfied with my numbers.”
She added,
“Secondly if I needed attention I should have posted it on my feed but it was a trial reel. And this actually happened with us. Also you should definitely once check with your pr team kyuki isse aapki hi image p farak padd rha h. (because it’s affecting your image).” She also posted a screenshot of another comment he seems to have deleted that read: “First of all ma’am u have convinced urself that someone who has come and asked u has asked u because I sent them to u all this for views.” Posting it she wrote, “Woh sab toh thik h lekin aapne comment delete kyu kiya (All this is fine but why did you delete this comment?)”
The incident has sparked a wider debate about influencer marketing and the credibility of online reviews
With promotional strategies increasingly relying on digital creators, the line between genuine reactions and paid or scripted content is often clouded.
Several users pointed out that such allegations—whether proven or not—can impact audience trust, especially ahead of a film’s release. Others argued that isolated incidents should not be taken as evidence of a broader pattern.
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Meanwhile, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan, is an upcoming romantic comedy featuring Varun Dhawan alongside Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur. The film’s teaser was recently unveiled and has already generated mixed reactions online, partly due to its experimental use of AI elements.
While neither side has provided concrete proof to support their claims, the episode highlights the growing scrutiny around digital promotions in the film industry.
What are your views on this matter? Let us know in the comments.
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