Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty’s claim that his 15-month-old granddaughter recognises and worships Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s photograph has gone viral on X, drawing sharp criticism and ridicule from users across the globe who called it brainwashing, bootlicking and an attempt to seek favour with the government.
Shetty made the remarks on Navika Kumar’s podcast Baatein Dil Se on Times Now, where he also spoke about his Bollywood journey, love for cricket and his bond with son-in-law and Indian national cricketer KL Rahul.
“I’ve always said I’m a huge fan of his [Modi]. You know, I’m not talking about a party, I’m talking about a leader. If a leader excites me, it excites me. As much as I love my country, I love that man. There is something about him,” Shetty said.
He then shared how his granddaughter, who was once shown a picture of Modi, now opens a Sai Baba book every morning and worships a photograph of Modi printed in it saying, “Modi ji, Modi ji.”
She, he added, then goes to the Ganpati idol to bring laddoos and offer them to him.
“I didn’t tell her to do this, neither did her mother, neither did her nanny,” he said. “From fifteen months to 65 years, absolutely, he has captured everyone. There is something magical.”
The clip set off a wave of mockery and anger online. “This is brainwashing,” one user wrote. “Indian politics has reached a fascinating stage. Adults borrow children’s innocence to express opinions children never had,” said another.
Several users questioned the child’s upbringing. “A 15-month-old baby worshipping a politician’s photo next to Sai Baba and offering Ganesh temple laddoos to him isn’t cute, it’s religious illiteracy being manufactured at home,” one user wrote.
“15 months? That child would forget her parents in 2-3 days, but she remembers Modi? What the heck?” another asked.
Many accused Shetty of ulterior motives. “Bro marked himself safe from any future ED raids. Ensured his son-in-law KL Rahul remains in the India team. Gave his citizenship proof,” one user wrote.
“So-called educated celebrity trying to please the current government by making his 15-month-old granddaughter do PR for Modi. Next level bootlicking,” said another.
“Turning a politician into a deity isn’t devotion, it’s delusion and Bollywood celebrating it shows just how far it has fallen,” one user wrote. “A toddler admiring a politician? That’s an opinion being projected, not expressed.”
One user summed up the sentiment, saying, “Whether you are an elite doesn’t depend on the money you possess or the popularity you enjoy. It depends on your intellect, broad-mindedness, and ability to look at things objectively. Personality cult is the antithesis of elitism.”
