From stardom to storms: The controversies of 'Virasat' actress Pooja Batra

Pooja Batra was Miss India Asia Pacific and has starred in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi films. Though she gained recognition as an actress, she gained a reputation for her outspoken personality. Batra's character is marked by never hesitating to speak on anything, be it culture, religion, or social injustices. Her candor has often landed her at the center of hotly debated discussions, public debates, or trending controversies, all of which have shaped her larger-than-life persona and proclivity for fearless public character.

In 2001, Pooja published a book titled The Mahabharata Genetics with then husband Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia, suggesting that the epic Mahabharata was history and its characters had a genetic relationship to one another. It even went so far as to say that ancient genetics could be linked with Indian heritage. Scholars and historians labeled the work unscientific and heavily criticized it, all of which attracted much attention to Batra and her unorthodox ideas.

In 2002, Pooja was in hot water once again, according to Zee News, when she said on television that the elephant head of Lord Ganesha may have been a result of plastic surgery, and many Hindu people were offended. Pooja apologized for her comments, but the remark remains memorable. In 2006, Pooja irritated traditionalists again when she wrote cows are only animals, and that they are not sacred. Pooja’s commentary about religious symbols generated engagement around faith, expectation, the changing of tradition, and modern interpretations of faith and religion in Indian society.

Pooja Batra's personal existence has been a subject of chatter, too. She initially married orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia, but it was never confirmed by Pooja that there had been a disagreement about being new parents. After the divorce, she surprised her followers in 2019 when she announced — through a social media post — that she had married actor Nawab Shah. She faced a barrage of accusations about keeping her personsl life private and hiding her marriage but ended up revealing her happiness about finally having some stability and companionship after years of public scrutiny over her relationships.

Outside of controversies, Batra has been a vocal advocate for social justice causes. In 2020, along with others, she publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement, using her social media accounts to speak out against racism and police violence. Some people were critical of her for speaking about American politics, but she stood her ground about her right to express concerns across borders. Over the years, Batra has established herself as a critic of extremism and intolerance, and gender discrimination, making her mark as not only an actress, but also a socially conscious commentator.