'Han ji, Andhbhakt here," Actress Isha Koppikar says she's proud to be called 'Andhbhakt' if it means loving India
Koppikar said people should take pride in the place they call home and actively work toward improving it, rather than just professing affection for it.
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On Tuesday, August 18, actress Isha Koppikar hit back at being labeled an "andhbhakt" (usually meant blind devotee of BJP), declaring that she'll wear the tag with pride if believing in India counts as blind devotion. In an Instagram video, the lady spoke at length about patriotism and nationalism, making clear that her loyalty lies with her nation, not with any political party.
To illustrate her point, she drew a comparison between two kinds of children, one those who spend their lives tallying what their parents failed to give them, and those who take whatever they receive and build on it, enriching not just their own lives but their parents' as well. The real difference, she said, lies not in circumstances but in mindset, and she urged people to shift their thinking accordingly. Rather than constantly asking what the country has done for them, she suggested people ask what they can do for the country, noting that India is evolving and it's time for citizens' attitudes to evolve with it.
In her caption, Koppikar wrote that if loving India is what people call "andhbhakti," she'll gladly claim the label, adding that she remains capable of questioning what feels wrong and praising what feels right, all while placing her nation above everything else.
This isn't the first time the actress has addressed such criticism. Back in July, she had similarly pushed back against trolls who questioned her views on democracy, asserting that her patriotism was a source of pride rather than embarrassment, and stating that she'd rather stand proud than apologize for loving her country, going as far as to embrace both the "Andh Bhakt" and "Bharat Bhakti" labels.
She explained that if caring for one's country and wanting to see it progress amounts to blind devotion, she's happy to accept that title, but stressed that this devotion is directed at India itself, not at any political outfit. Her message centered on putting the nation first, and she encouraged people to love, respect, and contribute to wherever they choose to live.
Actress Isha Koppikar (Image: Screenshot from her video)
“If loving your country, believing in India, and wanting its progress is devotion, then yes, I am proud to be a devotee, a blind devotee. But my devotion is not for any political party, but for my country, for my India. Nation first. Wherever you may live, learn to love that place, respect that place, and contribute to it,” she said.
Koppikar argued that genuine patriotism goes beyond verbal declarations of love for one's country; it requires action. She said people should take pride in the place they call home and actively work toward improving it, rather than just professing affection for it.
To illustrate her point, she drew a comparison between two kinds of children, one those who spend their lives tallying what their parents failed to give them, and those who take whatever they receive and build on it, enriching not just their own lives but their parents' as well. The real difference, she said, lies not in circumstances but in mindset, and she urged people to shift their thinking accordingly. Rather than constantly asking what the country has done for them, she suggested people ask what they can do for the country, noting that India is evolving and it's time for citizens' attitudes to evolve with it.
She closed the video by embracing whatever label critics wanted to give her, devotee, blind devotee, or nationalist, reaffirming her love and belief in India, which she described as neither blind nor unconditional, but proud, passionate, and unapologetic, ending with "Jai Hind."
In her caption, Koppikar wrote that if loving India is what people call "andhbhakti," she'll gladly claim the label, adding that she remains capable of questioning what feels wrong and praising what feels right, all while placing her nation above everything else.
This isn't the first time the actress has addressed such criticism. Back in July, she had similarly pushed back against trolls who questioned her views on democracy, asserting that her patriotism was a source of pride rather than embarrassment, and stating that she'd rather stand proud than apologize for loving her country, going as far as to embrace both the "Andh Bhakt" and "Bharat Bhakti" labels.