A fresh online controversy has erupted after actor Yami Gautam liked an Instagram Reel that appeared to shade Kriti Sanon for winning the Best Actress award at the Zee Cine Awards.
Kriti Sanon received the Best Actress honour for her performance in the film Tere Ishk Mein. However, many fans of Yami Gautam felt she deserved the award for her role in Haq.
The controversy began when an Instagram Reel compared Kriti celebrating her award with an old interview clip of Yami where she spoke about not seeking validation from awards. The video questioned whether it was fair for Kriti to win over Yami. The Reel gained traction online after users noticed that Yami had liked the post.
Soon after, screenshots of the like surfaced on Reddit, where users began debating the issue. Some commenters criticised Yami for seemingly endorsing a post that targeted Kriti, with a few calling it “unnecessary” and asking why the actress was being dragged into the controversy.
Others defended Yami, arguing that both actresses delivered strong performances and deserved recognition. A section of users also pointed out that award results are subjective and often spark debates among fans.
Meanwhile, Kriti Sanon celebrated her win on social media, expressing gratitude to the audience, the film’s director Aanand L Rai and her co-star Dhanush for their support.
The debate highlights how award wins in Bollywood often trigger fan wars and social media scrutiny, especially when popular stars are involved.