Actor Girija Oak has spoken out about the dark side of sudden internet fame as she revealed she has been inundated with lewd and disturbing direct messages ever since a viral clip crowned her as a “national crush.” What seemed like overnight popularity has exposed her to a barrage of online harassment, a stark reminder of how social-media adoration can quickly turn into invasive objectification.
Girija, who has worked in Hindi and Marathi cinema and television for more than two decades, told reporters that nothing concrete has changed professionally, she’s not suddenly flooded with work offers. But her social media inbox has filled up with messages crossing all boundaries. She shared that some strangers have offered money and demanded company. “They asked, ‘Ek ghanta bitaane ki keemat kya hai?’” (“What’s the price to spend one hour with you?”) she said. The experience, she added, felt demeaning and disillusioning.
“These people, if they saw me in real life, wouldn’t even look up,” Girija said, underlining the unsettling gap between virtual bravado and real-world civility. Behind anonymous profiles and screens, she said, people feel emboldened to speak anything.
Her story resonates far beyond her personal experience. It forces a larger reckoning about how social media amplifies celebrity, especially for women, without preparing them for the consequences. In Girija’s case, a moment of internet virality turned into a flood of unwarranted attention, many times crossing into harassment.
It also reveals a worrying double standard. While many actors become overnight sensations through a single post or clip, not all bear the same burden. Some thrive on fame, while others, like Girija, must navigate the strings of public desire and disrespect. Her daring admission lifts the veil on a conversation that many “viral” personalities silently endure.
Girija’s career, rooted in regional cinema and long years of acting, may not depend on internet trends. But as her experience shows, the spotlight can bring its own harsh spotlight. For someone caught in the crosshairs of sudden virtual admiration, the messages were more than just admiration, they were a show of entitlement, a chilling understanding of how anonymity can breed rudeness.
Her response was firm and unyielding. She refused to be complicit in reducing her identity to mere aesthetics or entertainment. By speaking up publicly, Girija has forced a conversation about consent, respect, and privacy in the digital age, issues far bigger than any fleeting “crush” tag.
As social media continues reshaping celebrity and culture, stories like hers deserve attention not just for their shock value, but for what they say about respect and boundaries. The way we treat those we admire, whether with applause or indecent proposals, reflects the kind of society we build online.