A video clip from singer AP Dhillon's recent concert in Mumbai has set social media ablaze, featuring actress Tara Sutaria in a controversial on-stage moment. The incident, which involved a hug and a kiss on the cheek, has drawn intense scrutiny primarily due to the visible reaction of Sutaria's boyfriend, actor Veer Pahariya, who was in the audience.
The Viral Moment and Online Backlash
During AP Dhillon's performance, Tara Sutaria, who has collaborated with the singer in the past, joined him on stage. The interaction turned heads when Dhillon hugged Sutaria and proceeded to place a kiss on her face. The camera panned to Veer Pahariya, who many social media users claimed looked visibly upset. This single moment became the catalyst for a widespread online debate.
Critics were quick to slam Tara Sutaria, accusing her of being disrespectful to her partner. A widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted a perceived double standard, stating that if the roles were reversed and Veer Pahariya had kissed another woman on stage, he would have been "cancelled" within minutes. This sentiment echoed across numerous comments, with users questioning why Sutaria was seemingly getting a pass for the public display.
Fans Rush to Tara's Defence
As the criticism mounted, a significant number of fans and observers came to Tara Sutaria's defence, offering a different interpretation of the events. They pointed to Sutaria's body language, arguing that she was subtly trying to create distance and even indicated a silent "no" when Dhillon moved in for the cheek kiss.
One supporter noted on the micro-blogging platform, "If you see Tara’s body language, she’s literally trying to push away AP whenever he came close to her." Another added that she "clearly did a no" in a subtle manner, given the constraints of a large public stage. This camp shifted the blame towards AP Dhillon, questioning his actions for kissing someone's girlfriend on stage without explicit consent and referencing alleged inappropriate touching during a previous concert.
Silence from the Principals and Lasting Impact
Amid the swirling controversy, neither Tara Sutaria nor Veer Pahariya has issued any public statement or reaction to address the viral video or the ensuing debate. AP Dhillon has also maintained his silence on the matter, leaving the internet to dissect the few seconds of footage without official clarification.
The incident has underscored the intense scrutiny celebrity relationships face and sparked a broader conversation about gender biases in public perception. The debate hinges on whether the act was an innocent, friendly greeting common in the entertainment world or a boundary-crossing moment disrespectful to a partner. The fact that Tara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya had made their relationship Instagram official just in August of this year added more fuel to the discussion about their public dynamics.
Ultimately, the viral episode from the Mumbai concert continues to generate heat online, dividing netizens into camps defending Sutaria's actions, sympathizing with Pahariya, or criticizing Dhillon's stage behavior, all while the key figures involved choose to stay out of the fray.
