The music video for Diljit Dosanjh's latest track 'Kufar' featuring Manushi Chhillar has found itself at the center of a major social media storm. A particular dance sequence, where Diljit stands behind a female dancer who lifts her leg on the line 'jannat ke darwaaze kudiye', triggered widespread backlash with audiences accusing it of blatant objectification.
Choreographers Break Their Silence
As the controversy escalated, the song's choreographers, Piyush Bhagat and Shazia Samji, have finally addressed the criticism. In a candid conversation on the Hindi Rush podcast, they defended their creative choices and shed light on the production process. The duo revealed that their primary brief from the onset was clear: to make the song 'sexy' and 'international' in its appeal.
Contradicting the actors' subsequent statements, the choreographers asserted that everyone on set, including Diljit Dosanjh and Manushi Chhillar, was fully aware of and aligned with the choreography. "It's teamwork," Piyush stated. "When you make the concept, you're arranging the steps and shooting for it, everyone knows what's happening from the DOP, the star, to the dancers, everyone on the set is aware."
The Actors' Reactions to the Backlash
When the trolling intensified, both lead actors distanced themselves from the contentious step. Manushi Chhillar took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that she was not the one performing the step in question and urged the public not to disrespect the professional dancer who was. She described the shoot as a "whirlwind" experience where she learned the choreography in just six hours.
Diljit Dosanjh, in a live video, offered a more casual dismissal of the situation. He said in Punjabi, "Bruh, I was just standing there, I didn't even know what was going on around me," seemingly downplaying his involvement in the specific sequence.
Standing By Their Creative Vision
Despite the backlash, the choreographers stand firmly by their work. Shazia expressed that the 'jannat ke darwaaze' sequence was actually their favorite part of the song, a hookline they believed would strongly connect with the audience. Piyush emphasized the international nature of Diljit's brand and the intentionality behind the song's sexy vibe, pointing out that the teaser itself asked, 'Are you ready for a sexy dance?'
"Some people perceived it a certain way, and it's their perspective," Piyush commented on the controversy. "I don't see anything negative in it; it was fun." Shazia added that their only brief was to make a sexy song and that both negative and positive talk ultimately keeps the song in the public discourse.
In a final defense of the actors, Shazia revealed that Manushi Chhillar was originally supposed to perform the step but was delayed in her vanity van. She also stressed that Diljit was simply performing as an artist and should not be personally blamed for the choreography.
Ultimately, the song has proven to be a commercial success, amassing over 2.9 crore views on YouTube since its release a month ago, proving that the controversy has done little to dampen its popularity among the wider audience.
