Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha has been battling online trolls since a video from her Instagram Story was shared with misleading claims that it contained inappropriate sounds. The actor clarified that the sound was that of a puppy crying in the background while she watched the match at a friend's home.
Bharuccha says she was stunned by how quickly misinformation spread and admits the incident affected her more than she expected. She distanced herself from social media for a few days and says support from people close to her helped her navigate the situation.
The actor adds that replying to every comment only gives it oxygen and staying quiet, then making one clear statement, felt far healthier than fighting a thousand little battles. She also says the incident made her more aware of what she puts out, but refuses to let trolls decide how much of herself she gets to show.
Bharuccha's real takeaway is for the people watching: verify before you believe, and remember there's a human being on the other side of the screen. The responsibility shouldn't sit only with the target to be careful, it should be on all of us to be sensible and kinder, she says.
