Netizens roast Payal Rohatgi for cheap shot at Alia Bhatt over 'invasion of privacy'

Mumbai: Actor Payal Rohatgi has sparked widespread criticism after dismissing Alia Bhatt’s recent concerns about privacy, following the circulation of a video that showed the interiors of Alia and Ranbir Kapoor’s under-construction home in Bandra. The video, allegedly filmed from a neighbouring building, revealed detailed views of the couple’s multi-crore property, prompting Alia to condemn the act as a “clear invasion of privacy.” However, Payal openly disagreed with that stance.

Taking to Instagram, Payal shared Alia’s post and wrote a strongly worded response, arguing that the situation didn’t amount to an invasion of privacy. According to her, privacy violations only apply to intimate or explicit acts being filmed without consent. She claimed that showing someone’s house, especially when shot from a public or neighbouring space, doesn’t qualify.

In her words, “your sexual act with your husband or another man comes under the invasion of privacy. @aliaabhatt sharing the location of your house is not INVASION OF PRIVACY. Hope u get basic common sense.” She added that many influencers film on public streets with residential buildings in the background, and that instead of complaining, Alia should install security measures, something she can easily afford.

Payal’s remarks triggered immediate backlash across social media, with Reddit emerging as the hub of strong reactions. Users slammed her for being insensitive and accused her of trying to stir controversy for relevance. One user wrote that people “people be saying anything these days to stay relevant,” while another commented that Payal was likely seeking attention because “I think she just wants people to talk about her or remember she exists cause no one really does.” Many called her comments “distasteful” and “unnecessary,” accusing her of undermining genuine concerns about personal security. The outrage intensified with users branding her a “massive hater” and an “attention-seeker,” while others questioned her understanding of basic boundaries and respect.

The controversy began when Alia Bhatt released a statement on August 26 via her official Instagram account, addressing the viral video of her upcoming residence. She expressed concern over how the interiors of her private space were captured and shared without her consent. Acknowledging the close proximity of buildings in Mumbai, she still stressed that such acts go beyond casual curiosity and enter the realm of privacy violation. She described the act of filming someone’s home, even if under construction, as both invasive and potentially dangerous.

Alia further stated that the video had been widely shared by media platforms and urged them, along with social media users, to refrain from spreading such content any further. “Filming or photographing someone’s personal space without permission is not ‘content’ – it’s a violation,” she wrote. She added that none of us would be comfortable having private parts of our home publicly broadcast without our knowledge, and requested people to act responsibly.

Alia and Ranbir’s Bandra home, reportedly valued at around ₹250 crore, is still under development. The couple, who plan to live there with their daughter Raha, own multiple floors in the building. The video, which sparked the entire debate, offered an intrusive look at the interior layout and features of the property, intensifying concerns over celebrity privacy and media boundaries.