Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has drawn criticism on social media after a video purportedly showing her declining to have a ‘tika’ applied to her forehead during a welcome ceremony at an event circulated online. The incident has prompted a debate among social media users, with several accusing the filmmaker of disrespecting a traditional Hindu greeting. 

The clip, which is being widely shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows Farah being welcomed by hotel staff in a lobby. The staff members approach her with an aarti thali as part of the reception. When one of them offers to apply a tika to her forehead, Farah appears to decline the gesture and instead allows it to be applied to her wrist.

The video subsequently attracted a series of critical reactions, with some users questioning her response to the traditional welcome. However, the online criticism largely reflects individual social media users' interpretations of the incident.

Farah Khan's video sparks reactions on X

Several users took to the platform to express their disapproval of Farah's reported decision. One user drew a comparison between the gesture and the filmmaker's personal style choices, writing: “Farah Khan gets offended when a woman offers her a tika as a welcoming gesture. Imagine wearing nail polish, which is haram in Islam, but getting offended by a tika because nail polish is a style statement while tika is a Hindu tradition. Classic Bollywood so called celeb for you.”

Another social media user questioned why Farah attended the event if she was uncomfortable with its traditional welcome rituals.

“Farah first denied the flower shower, then clearly refused to apply kumkum on her forehead! When they know that such procedures will happen there, why do they go to such places at all? Some people just have an itch to stir up controversy! Does it befit Farah Khan to disrespect in this manner? Those who invited her are just as foolish!”

Other users raised questions about secularism in their reactions to the video.

“Why dis SECULAR Farah Khan refused to apply Tikka on forehead ??” one user asked.

Another wrote: “She shows in Public as Secular, if so Why SECULAR Farah Khan refused to apply Tikka on forehead ??”

The incident has generated debate over social media, although the circulating clip alone does not establish Farah's reasons for choosing to have the tika applied to her wrist instead of her forehead.

Farah Khan's career in cinema

Farah made her directorial debut with the 2004 film ‘Main Hoon Na’, which emerged as a commercial success. She followed it with ‘Om Shanti Om’ in 2007, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Her subsequent directorial projects included the 2010 comedy ‘Tees Maar Khan’ and the ensemble musical heist film ‘Happy New Year’, released in 2014.

Alongside her work as a director, Farah has established herself as a choreographer, contributing to Indian films across multiple languages. Her career has also included international productions such as ‘Monsoon Wedding’, ‘Bombay Dreams’, ‘Vanity Fair’, ‘Marigold: An Adventure in India’ and ‘Kung Fu Yoga’.