Girija Oak reacts to being called ‘India’s Sydney Sweeney’; says, ‘The work I do is here to stay’

Girija Oak goes viral on social media

Girija Oak Godbole, best known for her acclaimed performances in Marathi and Hindi cinema, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm, this time, for simply wearing a blue saree. Over the past few days, X (formerly Twitter) has been buzzing with posts about the “blue saree wali ladki,” with fans calling her “India’s answer to Sydney Sweeney” and even comparing her to Italian star Monica Bellucci.

For Girija, who has been part of the film industry for nearly two decades, the sudden viral fame came as an unexpected surprise. “I am amused! My phone started buzzing like crazy on Sunday evening. I was in rehearsals for my play and couldn't take calls. Suddenly, all my friends were messaging me, ‘Do you know what's happening on X?’” she said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

The actor added that things escalated quickly online. “One sent me a post debating if it was (actor) Priya Bapat or me! Then my devar told me some cheap handles picked up my pictures and there was a whole ‘bhabhi lover’ scene happening. Some pages sexualised me. But Marathi fans said, ‘You've only just discovered her! We've known her for years’,” she said with a laugh.

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While some of the online chatter bordered on objectification, Girija has chosen to handle the newfound attention with grace and humour. “At the cost of sounding wise and old, it's a trend; it'll come and go. The work I do is here to stay. If people discover my work now, that makes me happy,” she remarked.

Girija Oak’s recent viral fame may have started with a saree, but her calm, witty response has only reminded fans that she’s an artist whose talent has long spoken for itself — even before the internet took notice.