Girija Oak Shares Shock Over Inappropriate Messages After Being Hailed As A National Crush

For more than twenty years, Girija Oak has carved out a respected place for herself in Marathi and Hindi cinema. But a recent surge of attention thrust her into a far brighter spotlight than she had anticipated. A short video of the actor draped in a blue saree unexpectedly took over social media timelines, sparking widespread admiration and a wave of fan-driven declarations that labelled her the ‘new national crush’. What began as an innocent moment of appreciation soon spiralled into a much larger cultural conversation.

From Admiration to Intense Virality

Images from a recent interview escalated the frenzy, with various social-media users likening Girija to international star Sydney Sweeney. Many went so far as to call her ‘India’s Sydney Sweeney’, reinforcing the speed with which public fascination had grown. In the midst of this sudden fame, Girija shared her reaction during a conversation with The Lallantop, where she remarked, “Someone asked if anything has changed. I said no I’m not getting extra work offers.”

Her measured response highlighted how detached the real-world impact was from the digital storm around her.

Facing Harassment Behind the Scenes

However, with admiration came an abrupt confrontation with the more distressing aspects of online visibility. Girija disclosed that her inbox began filling with inappropriate and degrading messages from anonymous users. Among the most disturbing were unsolicited queries such as, “What is the price to spend an hour with you?”

These invasive messages only grew more concerning when she realised that altered or AI-generated images, many of them explicit, were circulating without her consent. She expressed her discomfort with the objectification, noting that these manipulated visuals portrayed her in ways she found deeply unsettling.

Worry as a Mother and a Public Figure

Beyond personal distress, Girija’s greatest concern lies with the long-term implications. As the mother of a 12-year-old son, she fears that such offensive content may linger online indefinitely. The possibility that her child could one day encounter morphed or sexualised images of her adds a troubling layer to the challenges of navigating modern celebrity life, especially in an age where digital manipulation is rampant.

A Career Marked by Steady Growth

Girija Oak began her cinematic journey as a teenager in the Marathi film Manini and later appeared in smaller roles in popular Hindi films such as Taare Zameen Par and Shor in the City. Over time, she became a familiar presence on television with titles like Ladies Special and the anthology Modern Love: Mumbai.

Most recently, she featured in the Netflix film Inspector Zende opposite Manoj Bajpayee, and her next appearance will be in the upcoming series Perfect Family, where she stars alongside Gulshan Devaiah.