Actor Isha Koppikar has responded to what she described as “classic sophists” for misinterpreting her ‘proud andhbhakt’ comment, a day after her Instagram video about loving India and wanting the country to progress attracted attention. On Tuesday, Isha referred to herself as a proud ‘andhbhakt’, clarifying that her devotion was not directed towards any political party but towards the nation.
On Wednesday, the actor shared a note on Instagram Stories explaining her position. Her clarification followed reactions to her use of the term ‘andhbhakt’, which is commonly associated with someone blindly supporting a political party or political leader.
In her note, Isha wrote, “For all the classic sophists twisting words to confuse people: If you can be ‘Andha in love’ then why can't you be ‘Andh Bhakt’ in love with your country?” She added, “You can be both: Andh Bhakt and Desh Bhakt (sic).”
‘Andha in love’ refers to being blindly in love, while ‘andh bhakt’ is generally used to describe someone perceived as blindly loyal to a political party or leader.
In the Instagram video she posted on Tuesday, Isha said she considered herself an ‘andhbhakt’ if devotion meant loving the country and wanting to see it progress. She stressed that her loyalty was not to any political party but to India, adding that she could question the government, disagree with its policies and still love the country wholeheartedly.
Isha also said she was not embarrassed about being proud of India. She described the country as her home, where she has built her livelihood and received professional opportunities. She urged people to respect and contribute to the places they call home, saying patriotism should involve actions that help improve the country rather than merely expressing love for it.
In the caption accompanying the video, Isha said that if loving India was considered ‘andhbhakti’, she would proudly accept the label. She maintained that she could question things she disagreed with, appreciate what she believed was right and continue to place the nation above everything.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also supported Isha's comments, saying she identified with Koppikar's expression of patriotism and sharing her own experiences of standing by her beliefs and love for the country.
