Shrima Rai on being compared to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: ‘I was painted as a shady character, it was unfair’
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s sister-in-law, Shrima Rai, recently spoke about the online trolling she faced, where people accused her of riding on Aishwarya’s fame. In a chat with Mohsinaa Ahmad, Shrima shared that she was unfairly dragged into a controversy last November, calling it a misrepresentation.
“Something was thrown completely out of context. It was almost like when you watch those Indian TV dramas, a new character came and that new character was Shrima Rai. That’s how I felt,” she said, likening the situation to a dramatic TV show.
Shrima expressed frustration over being reduced to her family connections, despite having an independent career as a blogger. “I didn’t want that to be my calling card. It’s very unfair for someone to take away what you’ve built without even an interview. So when I saw the wrong things written about me, I did put out a clarification,” she stated.
She also clarified that while she respects achievements in the industry, unnecessary comparisons between women are harmful. “There’s no one who is saying to say that that woman hasn’t done what she has done and accomplished amazing amazing things. Of course, respect is there for that but it doesn’t mean you have to disrespect somebody else. Just because you are a fan of that person, doesn’t mean you have to be a troll of this person,” she added.
Addressing speculation around her cryptic social media posts, Shrima had previously clarified that she never intended to seek attention. She previously shared a note asserting her independence, writing, “Never jealous. Never intimidated. Never in competition. I got my own blessings.” However, the online scrutiny intensified, leading her to issue a statement defending her career, which she later deleted.
