'Mard sirf naam ke hain': Sanjay Dutt's old ad video saying Indian men becoming 'behenjis' goes viral

An old ad video featuring Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has gone viral on social media. In the ad, Dutt expresses disdain for men engaging in practices like growing long hair, cooking, or wearing floral outfits, which he described as diminishing the “manliness” of Indian men. In 2008, Dutt appeared in an advertisement that drew criticism for its sexist comments toward men with nontraditional gender expressions.

Sanjay Dutt's ad Goes Viral

In the advertisement, Dutt described a "new enemy" men face, specifically targeting men who he claimed were "walking around with long hair, waxed legs, and shaved chests." He argued that men were spending too much time on grooming and appearance rather than traditional male activities, stating, “They are men but only by name."



He encouraged men to return to traditional expressions of masculinity, including growing beards, wearing darker colors like black and grey, and focusing on activities he deemed masculine, like biking and watching cricket. The actor also voiced disapproval toward men cooking or taking up childcare roles, saying these actions made them resemble “behenjis,” a colloquial and often derogatory term for women.

Public reaction on social media

The ad's resurfacing has sparked critical responses on social media. Commenters expressed dismay, with some even reminding him that he himself started the tren of long hairs in 80s and 90s. One viewer wrote, "I was waiting for him to say it's a joke but no, he didn't." Others pointed out the contradiction, as Dutt himself has sported longer hair and colorful outfits in roles such as his character in the film Munnabhai.