Deepika Padukone's fans slam Dhruv Rathee for claiming actress used skin lightening

Dhruv rathee and Deepika padukone

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone found herself at the centre of a heated online debate this week after content creator and Youtuber Dhruv Rathee claimed in a video that she and several other actresses have undergone skin-lightening treatments.

The video, which spread rapidly on social platforms including Reddit, sparked a strong backlash from fans who rushed to the actress’s defence, calling the allegations unfounded and “hateful.”

In his new video, titled The FAKE Beauty of Bollywood Celebrities, Dhruv Rathee’s clip, posted on YouTube and widely shared online, suggested that many Bollywood actresses, including Deepika, Bipasha Basu, Shilpa Shetty, Kajol, and Priyanka Chopra, appeared darker earlier in their careers but look noticeably fairer now. He implied that the change could be due to glutathione injections, a controversial skin-lightening method he described as common among celebrities.

“Ek badi lambi list hai yahan par actresses ki jinka career ke shuruwat mein rang thodha dark dhikai deta tha lekin aajkal kafi light dikhai deta hai... Jab inse pucha jaata hai ke aisa kaise hogaya yeh bolti hai ke phele yeh dhoop mein zyada rehti thi ab nahi rehti isliye dheere dheere inka rang saaf hua hai... By the way, inmein se kuch actresses skin whitening cream ki ad karti hai... Fair skin ka raaz na toh koi cream hai na koi dhoop se bachna, reality hai glutathione injections jo skin lightening ka popular tareeka hai ,” Dhruv is seen saying in the video.

However, fans of Deepika Padukone  defended her and one user on Reddit argued that differences in Deepika’s appearance over the years are likely due to lighting, camera quality, makeup, and tanning trends rather than any cosmetic procedures.

Others highlighted that natural factors such as sun exposure and skincare routines can also influence how skin tone appears on camera, especially under professional lighting.

Several commenters criticised Dhruv Rathee’s motivations, with one pointing out that he had previously drawn controversy for attacking Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh–starrer film, and accusing him of attempting to garner attention by targeting popular figures.

Also read: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone twin as they head out for annual holidays

Some fans wrote that the commentary veered into personal territory and amounted to unnecessary criticism of Deepika’s personal choices.