Mumbai : Popular television actress Nia Sharma has once again found herself at the center of a social media storm, as an old video and images from her birthday celebration resurfaced, sparking renewed objections online. The controversy revolves around a novelty birthday cake shaped like male genitalia, which Sharma cut during her 30th birthday party in September 2020. A recent post by the X account
@GemsOfBollywood highlighted the clip, juxtaposing it with a sarcastic caption questioning societal standards: “Eating and licking cakes shaped as male genitalia is so cool. Do you expect cake with Bhagwat Gita?”
The video shows Sharma, dressed casually, playfully interacting with the cake amid friends, including actor Arjun Bijlani popping champagne. She captioned her original posts with phrases like “best dirty 30,” embracing the cheeky, adult-themed celebration held at a private resort. Friends gifted her the provocative cake as part of the fun, light-hearted festivities.
However, the imagery drew sharp criticism from sections of netizens who deemed it vulgar and inappropriate, especially given Sharma’s large following on social media. Trolls accused her of promoting indecency and setting a poor example as a public figure and role model. Comments flooded in calling the act “rubbish,” “shameful,” and questioning double standards in Indian society—one user remarked that a man doing something similar with female genitalia-shaped cake would face far harsher backlash, including potential legal threats.
The resurfaced content ties into broader debates about celebrity influence, cultural sensitivities, and freedom of personal expression. Some users linked it to perceived hypocrisy in targeting certain religious or cultural symbols while tolerating explicit content in entertainment circles. The
@GemsOfBollywood
post, which has garnered significant engagement, sarcastically contrasts the phallic cake with the sacred Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita (often misspelled as “Bhagwat Gita” or “Bhagwat Gita” in online discourse), implying a lack of reverence for traditional values.
This is not the first time Sharma has addressed such trolling. Back in 2020, following the initial backlash, she responded dismissively, stating she doesn’t pay heed to “useless arguments” and urging people to “keep calm and move on.” She emphasized personal choice in celebrations, describing the party as “whacky, weird or whatever.” Sharma has often projected a bold, unapologetic image, shrugging off moral policing from critics.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in India’s digital space between progressive personal freedoms and conservative expectations of public figures. While some defend it as harmless fun among consenting adults, others argue celebrities should exercise restraint due to their influence on younger audiences.
As of now, Sharma has not commented on the latest revival of the controversy. The debate continues to rage on X, with thousands of views, likes, and shares amplifying the discussion.