A recent incident at Mumbai International Airport has sparked outrage online after a video surfaced showing Deepika Padukone confronting a fan who was secretly recording her and her daughter, Dua. The video, which quickly went viral, shows Dua sitting on her mother's lap in an airport buggy when a bystander began filming them. Deepika immediately noticed and gestured for the person to stop. Despite her clear disapproval, the footage was shared on social media, revealing the child's face publicly for the first time.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh welcomed their daughter, Dua, last year and have been very protective of her privacy. They had previously requested the media and paparazzi not to photograph Dua, expressing their desire to reveal her face "at the right time". In December of last year, the couple formally introduced Dua to the paparazzi but made it clear that they did not want her photographed. They even shared a photo of her tiny feet on Diwali 2024, explaining that her name, Dua, means prayer, "because she is the answer to our prayers".

The unauthorized recording and sharing of Dua's video have been widely condemned as a blatant invasion of privacy. Netizens have expressed anger and disappointment at the disregard for the couple's wishes and the child's right to privacy. Many have drawn comparisons to similar incidents involving other celebrity children, such as Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's daughter, Vamika, whose face was accidentally revealed during a live broadcast.

Fans have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their support for Deepika and Ranveer, criticizing the "shameless behavior" of those who exploit children for clout. Some users highlighted the couple's previous requests for privacy and questioned the ethics of sharing the video despite Deepika's clear discomfort. One user wrote, "This viral video of Dua where Deepika clearly showed a gesture not to capture takes me back to the incident when Vamika was captured even after clearly stated by Virushka to not do that. Using kids clout on your page is peak shameless behaviour".

The incident has reignited the debate surrounding the privacy of celebrity children and the responsibilities of fans and media. While the paparazzi have largely respected Deepika and Ranveer's request to not photograph Dua, the incident highlights the challenges of protecting children from unwanted attention in the age of social media. Industry insiders warn that the obsession with star kids fuels trolling and even threats, emphasizing the need for boundaries and respect for privacy.

Other celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan have also spoken out about the growing intrusion into their children's lives, stressing the need for understanding and respect. Saif Ali Khan has said that there is an understanding with photographers that they can click his son, Taimur, at public places but not outside his home or school. He stressed that constant stalking of their home is not acceptable.