Khaberni - Turkish star Hande Erçel found herself suddenly at the center of a digital storm after a short video clip from a party was shared showing her sitting among the audience and filming with her mobile phone as Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan took the stage accompanied by Egyptian actress Amina Khalil.
Initially, the scene appeared spontaneous; Khalil is a close friend of Erçel, leading many to believe that the filming was intended for her. However, as the clip spread widely, especially among Indian circles, it led to interpretations where some saw it as a moment of admiration by the Turkish actress for the global Bollywood star, celebrated by fan pages as "a cute moment by a fan," according to "Economic Times".
A screenshot ignites anger
The controversy quickly escalated with the spread of a screenshot attributed to Hande Erçel's Instagram account, it was claimed that she commented on the controversy dismissively, questioning who Shahrukh Khan was "Who is this uncle?", and affirming that she was only filming her friend.
The circulated post triggered a massive wave of anger among Shahrukh Khan's fans, followed by sharp criticisms and mocking comments, before doubts began to emerge about the image's authenticity, due to clear inconsistencies in its phrasing and formatting, leading many to believe it was altered or fabricated.
Hande Erçel breaks her silence: "The post is fake"
Amid the escalating controversy, Hande Erçel broke her silence, responding directly through the "X" platform, definitively stating that the circulated screenshot was completely fake, and she had made no comments that belittled Shahrukh Khan or mocked him.
Her brief and decisive reply put an end to the speculation, sparking a wider debate about the rapid spread of misleading information within moments, followed by users sharing comparisons between real and fabricated posts to illustrate how digital content can be manipulated.
Apologies and support
Following Erçel's clarification, the tone of the interaction notably changed, as many of Shahrukh Khan's fans extended public apologies to the Turkish actress, expressing their regret for the hasty accusations, while others praised her calm handling of the crisis.
Erçel also received a wave of support from her fans, seeing in the situation a new example of the dangers of digital rumors.
Professionally, Shahrukh Khan continues working on his new film "King" directed by Siddharth Anand, in a special experience that teams him with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time on screen.
The film also features Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan, with expectations for its release in 2026, despite no official announcement to date.
