Hina Khan says 'we all make mistakes' amid feud with Shilpa Shinde

Actor Hina Khan on Monday reacted to the trolling linked to her feud with Shilpa Shinde, and asked her followers not to respond with hatred. In an Instagram Story, Hina said people make mistakes and change with time, even as the public exchange between the two actors continued to draw attention.

Her post came after days of sharp comments following Shinde's admission that the sexual harassment allegations she had once filed against producer Sanjay Kohli were false. Hina had criticised that admission strongly, after which Shinde appeared to take a veiled swipe at her.

In her Instagram Story, Hina wrote, "We all make mistakes, and we all evolve with time. I read some tweets here and there. I have always chosen kindness, love and humanity over hatred (sic)."

She then urged her fans and well-wishers to show the same restraint and not behave like "mindless and conscienceless trolls" while defending her.

She said people should not "stoop low to make a point" and added that it was possible to remain effective without being inhuman or hateful. "Compassion and love should be our strength," she wrote.

Hina also warned that she would block even her own fans if they spread "meaningless hatred and troll" in her name. Ending the post, she wrote, "I only want positivity and peace for me as well as for my dear ones... Please be kind (sic)."

What led to the latest post

The latest exchange began after Hina reacted to Shinde's confession about filing false sexual harassment claims against Kohli. In an earlier post, Hina had said she was "in disbelief" that some women were supporting such an "absurd and lowly action" even after an admission.

Calling it a crime, she asked people to consider what could have happened if the victim had died by suicide out of embarrassment or if his marriage had broken down. She also said this was not about "Hina vs XYZ" and added, "And for Heaven's sake! Get over BB. It's been 9 years."

Hina later posted a sarcastic message addressed to the Prime Minister, the President and the Law Minister, saying criminals who confessed after committing crimes should be released because they had courage and because nobody supported them when they committed the crime. The post appeared to be a response to Shinde's admission and to reactions defending her.

Shinde, without naming Hina, had earlier made remarks that referred to Hina's breast cancer diagnosis and the death of her father while accusing people of seeking publicity through her name.

In an Instagram video, she said, "I do not know when people will stop gaining publicity in my name," and added, "To gain publicity, you have your illnesses, you have deaths in your family, so why do you need Shilpa Shinde?" She also said that nobody had supported her nine years ago.

The controversy goes back to Shinde's long-running dispute with the makers of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!. On Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa's podcast, she said she had filed the sexual harassment complaint because she felt she had no other option at the time, and added that the matter was later settled and her pending payments were cleared.

Her remarks prompted the men's rights body, NCMIndia Council for Men Affairs, to seek action from the Mumbai Police.