Actor and content creator Sahiba Bali has spoken about the online abuse and threats she says she received after reposting a message highlighting society’s contrasting attitudes towards women’s strength and anger.
The message drew a parallel between the worship of Goddess Durga, who is associated with strength and the destruction of evil, and the treatment of women who protest against injustice or demand their rights. It questioned why feminine power is celebrated in religious traditions but can be met with hostility when women express anger or challenge social norms in everyday life.
Following the repost, Sahiba shared screenshots of abusive comments and messages she said had been directed at her. Some of the screenshots appeared to show repeated messages containing similar abuse.
In a subsequent note, the actor described feeling exhausted by the hostility and expressed concern about the potential consequences of speaking out.
“I heard a lot this year. For absolutely no reason. I don’t support hatred of any kind. There might be narratives made which are manufactured – I address differences with compassion & not divide. I hope they can too. There’s too much hate in this world. The cost of voicing injustice is danger to livelihood & safety. I honestly, am done. They won, I Iost. I’m sorry,” she wrote.
Her statement drew attention to the pressure public figures can face when they express opinions on contentious social and political issues.
Sahiba Bali Opens Up About Politics, Religion and Online Hate
In another social media post, Sahiba addressed the criticism she says she encounters when sharing her political and religious views. She suggested that both speaking out and remaining silent could attract abuse.
“Jaatein jaatein yeh bata doon: Kuch Kahoon, toh gaali. Kuch naa bolun, toh gaali. Govt ke khilaaf dissent toh gaali. Govt ko praise, toh gaali,” she wrote.
Sahiba also outlined several of her political views. She clarified that she is not a supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while describing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as her favourite politician. She criticised the Congress as a weak Opposition but acknowledged former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s contribution to India’s economy around 1991.
She expressed respect for the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India while stating that she does not support the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She also recalled supporting the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, adding that her voting decision would ultimately be her own.
“My vote will decide that, not the abuses or fear from strangers,” she wrote.
Addressing questions of religious identity, Sahiba stressed that Indian Muslims should not be treated as outsiders. She also referred to her own spiritual practices, including wearing a rudraksh for protection and visiting a gurudwara to express gratitude.
She said she did not hate anyone except criminals and expressed the view that rapists deserve capital punishment. Her post also mentioned the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which she described as a pressure group, before ending on a lighter note about her preference for Delhi’s food over Mumbai’s.
Her comments reflected a range of personal opinions on politics, religion, justice and everyday life.
Sahiba Bali Shares Cryptic Post About Social Media Algorithms
A day before sharing her note about online abuse, Sahiba had posted a message about the relationship between information, personal beliefs and social media algorithms.
The message argued that, despite having unprecedented access to information, people often seek out material that reinforces what they already believe rather than engaging with differing perspectives.
“We are living in the most information-rich era in human history. Knowledge is everywhere, most of it free. And yet, somehow, people have never been this confidently ignorant. We have unlimited access to information, but an alarming number of people use it only to find evidence for what they already want to believe,” the post read.
The accompanying caption stated, “Our algo will always show you what you want to see.”
Together, the posts raised questions about online hostility, the influence of social media algorithms and the challenges faced by people who express views on gender, religion and politics.
About Sahiba Bali
Sahiba Bali is an actor and content creator who has appeared in films including Laila Majnu, Amar Singh Chamkila and Dear Maya. Alongside her work in entertainment, she has also used social media to share personal opinions on current affairs and social issues.
Her latest posts have brought renewed attention to the abuse she says she has experienced online and the broader debate around public expression, dissent and women’s safety.
