Huma Qureshi Slams "Sick" Trolling Of Kiara Over Tabaahi

Updated on 4 August 2026

Actress Huma Qureshi has come out swinging in defence of her Toxic co-star Kiara Advani, calling the online trolling around the song Tabaahi "sick" and "disgusting." The remarks, made during an appearance on Yuvaa's talk show Be A Man, Yaar!, have reignited a familiar conversation in Bollywood: why female actors face harsher public judgment than their male co-stars for the exact same on-screen scenes.

What Huma Qureshi said about Kiara Advani's trolling

Speaking with host Nikhil Taneja, Huma addressed the double standard head-on after Taneja pointed out that Kiara had received disproportionately more criticism than co-star Yash for their romantic sequences in Tabaahi, despite both actors being married. Huma responded bluntly, saying it is sick and disgusting, but that the women in the film — the actresses and the directors — will have the last laugh, adding there is no point trying to defend something with words since you cannot change people's mindset that way.

She went further, questioning the trolls' motives outright and pointing out that while the wider world tends to be kind, the internet often is not — wondering aloud who these people even are.

Her Toxic co-star Benedict Garrett echoed the sentiment on the same show, pointing out that Yash is also married with children, yet has largely avoided the same scrutiny.

Why is Kiara Advani being trolled over the Tabaahi song

The backlash began after the release of Tabaahi, the first song from the upcoming film Toxic, in which Kiara appears in intimate scenes with co-star Yash. A section of social media users questioned why a married woman and new mother would take on such a role, while Yash — who is equally married and a father — faced comparatively little criticism for the same sequences.

The trolling did not stop at Kiara. Her husband, actor Sidharth Malhotra, also became a target, with users leaving similar comments on his Instagram posts. What started as criticism of a professional choice quickly spiralled into commentary on her marriage and personal life.

Some of the more pointed comments included lines like "Have Some Limits!" and "Money over morals?", with several users also referencing her marriage to Malhotra. At the same time, many viewers praised the song's visuals, styling and overall cinematic presentation, and Kiara's fans flooded her posts with supportive comments after she shared fresh stills captioned "Leaving a little chaos wherever she goes," which many read as a subtle response to the backlash.

Watch the Tabaahi song from Toxic

Tabaahi from Toxic, featuring Yash and Kiara Advani, composed by Vishal Mishra.

About Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups marks Yash's return to the big screen after the blockbuster KGF franchise, and features five female leads: Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas.

This is not the first time the project has drawn criticism over how it treats its women characters. An earlier teaser, titled "Ladies & Ladies," was criticised for centering entirely on the male lead while sidelining the female cast, with many viewers feeling the women were objectified.

Toxic is currently slated to release in theatres on 26 August 2026.

The bigger pattern: double standards in Bollywood

Huma Qureshi's comments tap into a debate that resurfaces almost every time an Indian actress appears in a bold or intimate scene: male co-stars in the same frame routinely escape the moral policing directed at their female counterparts. Kiara Advani herself has been at the centre of similar conversations before — her role as Preeti in Kabir Singh drew criticism for the film's treatment of a toxic relationship, though Advani has previously defended her choice of roles as reflective of real relationships rather than an endorsement of them.

The pattern is not limited to Kiara. Other actresses, including Anushka Sharma, have previously spoken out about being targeted online for reasons entirely unconnected to their own work or choices. The recurring thread: scrutiny lands disproportionately on women, whether it is about a film role, a relationship, or simply existing in the public eye.

If you have followed how quickly these pile-ons escalate, read our round-up of the biggest Bollywood scandals that shook the industry, the long history of bold and controversial Bollywood songs, and the Kangana vs Karan controversy explained.

FAQs

What did Huma Qureshi say about Kiara Advani being trolled?
Huma Qureshi called the trolling "sick" and "disgusting," and said the women of Toxic — its actresses and directors — will have the last laugh once the film releases.

Why is Kiara Advani being trolled over Tabaahi?
Kiara faced backlash for her intimate scenes with Yash in the song, with critics questioning her choices as a married woman and mother, while Yash largely avoided similar criticism for the same scenes.

When does Toxic release?
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to release in theatres on 26 August 2026.

Who else defended Kiara Advani?
Toxic co-star Benedict Garrett also spoke up on the same show, pointing out that Yash is married with children too, yet was not held to the same standard.