Kiara Advani credits POCSO-accused Jani Master in Instagram post; netizens call her 'tone-deaf'. How did she react?

Bollywood actress Kiara Advani recently found herself at the center of controversy after giving a public shoutout to Telugu choreographer Jani Master, who has been accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The backlash began when Kiara shared a behind-the-scenes (BTS) video on her Instagram, celebrating her dance rehearsals for the song “Dhop” from her upcoming movie Game Changer.

In her original post, Kiara praised Jani Master, among others, for their contributions to the song’s choreography. She wrote, “I remember seeing @alwaysjani master’s choreography and thinking how are we going to do this, but that’s the beauty of our job—always learning something new.” However, this acknowledgment did not sit well with many netizens, given Jani Master’s controversial past.

As soon as the post went live, social media users expressed their disappointment. Comments poured in, questioning Kiara’s decision to highlight someone facing such serious allegations. One Instagram user wrote, “@kiaraaliaadvani, being a woman, why are you mentioning that Jani Master in your post? Don’t you know about his recent news?” Another commented, “Literally, none of these so-called stars are innocent. They are all directly or indirectly involved with shady people.”


On Reddit, a user stated, “Tone-deaf and completely lacking morals. My heart goes out to the victims. It’s high time the Indian public realizes who these people really are and stops idolizing them.”

Kiara Edits Post Amid Outrage

In response to the backlash, Kiara subtly edited her Instagram post, removing Jani Master’s name from the caption. The updated excerpt now reads, “I remember seeing the choreography and thinking, how are we going to do this? But that’s the beauty of our job—always learning something new.” While the actress did not directly address the controversy, her swift action indicates an attempt to pacify critics.

The Allegations Against Jani Master

Jani Master was arrested in September by Cyberabad police on charges of sexual assault and mental harassment of a former junior choreographer. The survivor, who was reportedly 16 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, accused him of rape. Following his arrest, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended the National Film Award he had received for choreographing the song “Megham Karukkatha” in Thiruchitrambalam (2022). After spending over a month in judicial custody, Jani Master was released on bail in October.

Game Changer Details

Game Changer, directed by Shankar, features Ram Charan and Kiara Advani in lead roles. The film, which is slated for release on January 10, 2025, also stars Anjali, Samuthirakani, S. J. Suryah, Srikanth, Prakash Raj, and Sunil. The song “Dhop,” highlighted in Kiara’s controversial post, is a blend of dubstep, classical, robotic, and hip-hop dance styles, showcasing her attempt to explore new choreography.