Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Telugu actor Faria Abdullah broke down in an emotional social media video while responding to the trolling she faced over her participation in Hyderabad’s Bonalu celebrations. She attended the Bonalu festivities on August 10 at the Sri Mahankaleshwara Ammavari Temple in Miralam Mandi.
Dressed in traditional attire, Faria carried a Bonam and joined devotees in the celebrations. Videos of her dancing to dappu beats at the temple soon went viral on social media.
advertisement
However, her participation also drew criticism from a section of social media users who questioned her presence at a Hindu festival, citing her Muslim background. Some users went as far as calling her a “kafir” and accusing her of going against her faith.
Reacting to the backlash, Faria became emotional and addressed the criticism in an Instagram video, explaining why she chose to participate in the celebrations.
“My dad is a converted Muslim bro. Do you understand what that means? He got converted to Islam because he liked the religion,” she said while speaking about her father, Sanjay Abdullah, who was born a Hindu and later converted to Islam.
She explained that growing up in such a family shaped her understanding of religion and spirituality. Faria said she had always seen the positive aspects of Islam and questioned why celebrating another community’s cultural traditions should be treated as a rejection of one’s own faith.
“What kind of an upbringing would I have had if someone were bringing me up, showing me all the good things about a religion because they loved it so much that they wanted to accept it. I’ve always seen the good about Islam. I really wish good things for you bro actually,” the actor added.
Responding to those calling her a “kafir”, Faria said she would not respond to hatred with hatred.
“Whoever is hating on me, whoever thinks that main galat jaa rahi hoon, kafir hoon (I am going down the wrong path, I am a kafir), whatever you want to say, I wish you well for you bro,” the Kalki 2898 AD actor said.
She said she sees life in trees, rocks and butterflies and believes that the beauty of creation should bring people closer to God rather than create divisions.
Faria further said that she prays for “love, unity and peace”, describing her decision to spread love despite the trolling as her “rebellion” and “revolution.”
She then delivered the most striking part of her message, saying, “I want to be aggressive about my love and I will be. I will send love to all of you who are hating on me right now because I know that my heart is true. I know I’ve experienced the love, I’ve experienced the blessings and experienced what gratitude can do for you.”
Towards the end of the video, she even recalled a childhood conversation with her mother when a curious Faria asked her mother about the meaning of the word “Allah.”
“When I was a kid, I asked my mom, ‘ What is this word, Allah? What does it mean? She just said it means light. It means everything everywhere all at once. How can you exclude something from everything everywhere all at once?” she said.
The actor had also spoken about the issue in the Ice Breaking With Isaac podcast, explaining that temples and other places of worship have always been sacred to her because she was raised in a multicultural family.
Faria said she had never experienced Bonalu before and wanted to participate because it was part of the culture she grew up around. She described the festival’s atmosphere as something she deeply connected with.
What is Bonalu celebration?
Bonalu is a traditional Hindu folk festival dedicated to Goddess Mahakali and her regional forms, including Yellamma. Celebrated annually during the Hindu month of Ashada (July-August), primarily in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and across Telangana, the festival is observed as a thanksgiving offering for health, safety and the protection of the community.
Why was Faria trolled?
Faria attended Hyderabad’s Bonalu celebrations on August 10, 2026, at the historic Sri Mahankaleshwara Ammavari Temple in Miralam Mandi’s Old City. She actively took part in the festivities and also fulfilled a childhood dream by carrying the traditional Bangaru Bonam.
While many praised the actress for embracing Telangana’s culture and its spirit of inclusivity, a section of social media users criticised her participation because she was born into a Muslim family.
The backlash prompted Faria to open up about her multicultural upbringing and her personal understanding of religion.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
