Indian filmmaker sparks outrage with post mocking Gaza genocide
Ram Gopal Varma’s remark comparing Israeli bombings in Gaza to Diwali fireworks draws global condemnation, exposing India’s deepening Islamophobia under Hindutva rule
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Indian filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has provoked international outrage after posting on X that “in India only one day is Diwali and in Gaza, every day is Diwali,” a comment that equated Israel’s bombardment of Gaza with the fireworks that light up India during the Hindu festival.
The post was widely condemned as dehumanizing and cruel, turning images of Palestinian suffering into a punchline. Many said Varma’s use of Diwali fireworks to describe airstrikes on Gaza trivialized the ongoing genocide and reflected a disturbing collapse of empathy within India’s increasingly polarized society.
The backlash erupted amid global outrage over Israel’s assault on Gaza, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Human rights advocates and Palestinian solidarity groups said the remark underscored how Hindutva-aligned voices in India have normalized violence against Muslims, both domestically and abroad.
Award-winning journalist Rana Ayyub reposted Varma’s message with a sharp rebuke: “Repeating: What is left for a virus to kill in a morally corrupt nation.”
Columnist Sara Ather said the post revealed “the gutter level of politics that has become mainstream in India,” while academic Rakhi Tripathi noted that “Gaza is about survival, not celebration.” Activist Ali Asad condemned the remark as “Zionist worship disguised as patriotism.”
Hashtags such as #BoycottRGV and #JusticeForGaza trended globally as users demanded action from X against hate speech that mocks war crimes. Many argued that the remark exemplified how celebrity figures amplify propaganda that desensitizes audiences to human suffering.
The controversy has reignited debate over India’s film industry’s growing alignment with Hindu nationalist ideology. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power in 2014, Bollywood has produced Islamophobic propaganda films that glorify state violence and vilify minorities.
Analysts say this cultural shift has made anti-Muslim rhetoric increasingly mainstream and socially acceptable.
Varma, once known for his cinematic experimentation, has not issued an apology or clarification.
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