Life often has a strange way of pushing us into the spotlight when we least expect it. For Khushboo Patani, sister of Bollywood actor Disha Patani, that moment came just days after a terrifying incident outside her family’s Bareilly home. In the early hours of Friday morning, unidentified assailants opened fire at the Patani residence in Civil Lines. The news sent shockwaves through the city, not only because Disha is one of Bollywood’s most recognizable faces, but also because her father, Jagdish Patani, is a retired police officer.
As Bareilly Police began their investigation into the incident, the family quietly coped with the tension. While Disha chose to keep silent and later made a calm public appearance in New York, her sister Khushboo decided to take a very different route: she took to Instagram and posted a video about self-defense.
The video, though brief, has left a lasting impact, sparking praise, criticism, and debate in equal measure.
A Message Based on Responsibility
Khushboo captioned her video with the words “MERA DESH, MERI ZIMMEDARI” (My country, my responsibility). It was not just a slogan; it was a call to awareness.
She is carrying something as ordinary as a screw nut and data cable in the video and demonstrating to all people how these ordinary things can be used to create self-defense devices. Her point was straightforward: in today’s world, where anything could happen, nobody knows what threat will come, and one had better be ready to defend oneself, famous or not.
“Aaj ke iss yug mein… Kab jaane kya ho jaaye, kissi ko kuch pata nahi,” she said with striking honesty. (In today’s times, no one knows what might happen; it could happen to anyone).
She urged her viewers to always carry something, anything, for their own protection, be it licensed equipment or even an improvised tool. The video ends with her reminder: safety is a personal responsibility.
Internet Divided: Applause and Criticism
Unsurprisingly, the internet reacted in extremes. Some people praised her courage and initiative.
• “We are with you, ma’am, always.”
• “True warrior spirit.”
• “More power to you.”
Others, however, couldn’t resist linking the video to the recent firing. The most common criticism was that no cable, no matter how strong, can protect someone against guns. One blunt comment read: “Your data cable will not help when the other guy is firing guns.” Another added, “Pura parivar dara hua hai.” (The whole family is scared).
It was a reminder of how public figures, especially women, rarely get to share their concerns without being picked apart.
The Shadow of Controversy
The firing itself has been surrounded by speculation. Jagdish Patani revealed that the attackers fired 8–10 rounds and fled on motorcycles. Reports suggested that gangster Goldy Brar might have claimed responsibility, though this remains unverified.
What further complicated matters was the internet’s attempt to link the attack with Khushboo’s earlier comments on a spiritual leader. Recently, she had criticized Aniruddhacharya for his alleged remark that unmarried women over 25 are promiscuous. The comment drew a storm of trolling online, and soon after, her words were misattributed to another popular figure, Premanand Ji Maharaj.
Her father has since clarified that Khushboo’s statement was misrepresented and wrongly connected to the spiritual leader. But the timing of the firing, just weeks later, added a layer of anxiety and conspiracy to the entire situation.
A Sister’s Different Path
What stands out most in all of this is how differently the two sisters handled the crisis. Disha Patani has chosen silence. She has made no official statement, appearing instead at public events, carrying herself with calm composure.
Khushboo, on the other hand, chose action even if symbolic. Her video was not a solution to bullets or attackers, but it was a way of reclaiming some control. For her, showing people how to improvise with a cable may not stop a gun, but it at least reinforces the idea of not remaining helpless.
And perhaps, that’s what makes her post so human. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t polished. But it was out of a place of genuine fear and genuine responsibility.
Why This Moment Matters
At its core is a larger question: when our safety is in danger, how do we, as individuals, react? Not everybody has security guards or police officers. For most people, self-defense, even symbolic, is all they have.
Khushboo Patani’s video may not have been universally applauded, but it has opened up a necessary conversation about women’s safety, preparedness, and the role of self-defense in everyday life. In a world where danger can arrive at your doorstep unannounced, perhaps carrying a cable is less about fighting back and more about not giving in to fear.
As the case trails on and the Patani family gradually resumes normalcy, Khushboo’s message continues to be on the Net: “Take charge of your own safety.”
And whatever your feelings may be toward her methods, that’s a lesson worth remembering.