Ayesha Khan has been making waves after she was featured in Dhurandhar's popular song Shararat. The TV actress has recently opened up about a deeply disturbing experience that blurred the line between online abuse and real life. Speaking candidly at an event, the actress revealed how an online stalker she had been ignoring for months turned out to be someone working on her own film set.
Ayesha Khan opens up about threats and social media abuse
Recalling the unsettling moment, Ayesha said at We The Women event that she had been receiving strange direct messages and voice notes on Instagram for a long time. One day, “I was shooting for a film and my father was there that day. I randomly opened my Instagram, and there was one DM I had been seeing for a long time. There were voice notes. Then I realized it was one of the spot boys."
She immediately informed her father and the production team, after which appropriate action was taken. While she said she felt protected in that moment, the incident left her shaken and reminded her how close and personal online harassment can become.
The actress did not stop there. She also spoke about facing constant sexualisation on social media, saying that almost every day she receives inappropriate comments regardless of what she wears or posts. According to her, even a simple outfit can attract criticism, while other choices spark outrage. She admitted that before uploading anything, she often pauses to consider whether she is emotionally prepared to deal with the reaction.
More disturbingly, Ayesha revealed that "rape threats have become a regular occurrence in her inbox". Calling the situation “very scary,” she stressed that these are not anonymous bots but real individuals typing such messages. She remarked that such comments shows dangerous thinking and sometimes reopen old fears.
She added, "Because you are a potential rapist if you had the strength or you could do what you are saying, you would do it. So it's very scary that these are actual human beings around us. These are not just comments. I have had rape threats every day. I so wish something strict could be done about it. There are days when it triggers my wounds, scares me that if I were not this famous or powerful like I am today, it could have happened.”
Ayesha Khan says she was replaced from a song for 'being fat'
The actress also recalled an early setback in her career that impacted her confidence. When she was in Class XII, she had been finalised for a major T-Series song and was preparing to shoot. However, she was dropped at the last minute because she was considered “fat.” The rejection left a lasting mark on her self-esteem and became one of the first harsh lessons she faced in the entertainment industry.
Despite these challenges, Ayesha has steadily built her career. She began as a junior artist before making her television debut in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. She later appeared in Baalveer Returns and transitioned to films with the Telugu project Mukhachitram. Her participation in Bigg Boss 17, hosted by Salman Khan, significantly increased her visibility. She went on to feature in Dil Ko Rafu Karr Lei, Dhurandhar, and most recently Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2.
Ayesha also called for stricter action against online harassment, stating that normalising such threats creates an unsafe environment, especially for women in the public eye.
Ayesha Khan opens up about threats and social media abuse
Recalling the unsettling moment, Ayesha said at We The Women event that she had been receiving strange direct messages and voice notes on Instagram for a long time. One day, “I was shooting for a film and my father was there that day. I randomly opened my Instagram, and there was one DM I had been seeing for a long time. There were voice notes. Then I realized it was one of the spot boys."She immediately informed her father and the production team, after which appropriate action was taken. While she said she felt protected in that moment, the incident left her shaken and reminded her how close and personal online harassment can become.
The actress did not stop there. She also spoke about facing constant sexualisation on social media, saying that almost every day she receives inappropriate comments regardless of what she wears or posts. According to her, even a simple outfit can attract criticism, while other choices spark outrage. She admitted that before uploading anything, she often pauses to consider whether she is emotionally prepared to deal with the reaction.
More disturbingly, Ayesha revealed that "rape threats have become a regular occurrence in her inbox". Calling the situation “very scary,” she stressed that these are not anonymous bots but real individuals typing such messages. She remarked that such comments shows dangerous thinking and sometimes reopen old fears.
She added, "Because you are a potential rapist if you had the strength or you could do what you are saying, you would do it. So it's very scary that these are actual human beings around us. These are not just comments. I have had rape threats every day. I so wish something strict could be done about it. There are days when it triggers my wounds, scares me that if I were not this famous or powerful like I am today, it could have happened.”
Ayesha Khan says she was replaced from a song for 'being fat'
The actress also recalled an early setback in her career that impacted her confidence. When she was in Class XII, she had been finalised for a major T-Series song and was preparing to shoot. However, she was dropped at the last minute because she was considered “fat.” The rejection left a lasting mark on her self-esteem and became one of the first harsh lessons she faced in the entertainment industry.Despite these challenges, Ayesha has steadily built her career. She began as a junior artist before making her television debut in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. She later appeared in Baalveer Returns and transitioned to films with the Telugu project Mukhachitram. Her participation in Bigg Boss 17, hosted by Salman Khan, significantly increased her visibility. She went on to feature in Dil Ko Rafu Karr Lei, Dhurandhar, and most recently Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2.
Ayesha also called for stricter action against online harassment, stating that normalising such threats creates an unsafe environment, especially for women in the public eye.
