'It’s disgusting and traumatic'; Jonita Gandhi opens up about online harassment

Jonita Gandhi is a celebrated playback singer in India, renowned for delivering numerous chart-topping hits in multiple languages. With a massive fan following, she has also earned acclaim for her electrifying live stage performances.

In a recent interview with Hauterrfly, Jonita spoke out about a troubling incident of online harassment in which she was tagged in an explicit image. Describing the experience as "disgusting" and "harassment," the singer said that while she often reports and blocks such content, the emotional toll extends beyond her, particularly to her family.

Recounting the incident, Jonita said, "Some things are kind of traumatic. On Instagram, you can check your mentions, and I’d see that I’d been added to someone’s Close Friends stories. Then I’m seeing it’s a d**k pic. It has a watermark with their thing with my photo in the background. It’s a new thing now. It’s disgusting. It’s harassment. But I keep ignoring such things,” she said

The singer expressed concern for her family, especially her mother, who could inadvertently come across such disturbing posts. “I don’t really care when it’s just me, but if my mom were to see that on my profile, it would really upset me. I want to protect her from this kind of thing,” she explained.

She attributed such behaviour to individuals seeking attention online. “People are jobless, they just want attention. I’ve blocked so many accounts because of this,” Jonita noted.

The singer also highlighted the challenges of performing live, citing uncomfortable interactions with overzealous fans. “Some people just climb on stage, saying they want to sing with me. It’s really annoying. I respond with sarcasm, but they’re often too drunk to get it,” she said, adding that some fans even try to dance with her during performances. “I have to tell them, ‘Back off. Know your place.”

She concluded by stressing that she values audiences who genuinely appreciate her music, not those who are merely drawn by the presence of a female performer on stage.

Despite these challenges, Jonita Gandhi remains one of the most admired voices in Indian music today. Known for her versatile range and emotive performances, she has delivered numerous chartbusters such as The Breakup Song, Sau Tarah Ke, Arabic Kuthu, Gilehriyaan, and What Jhumka?. With a strong fan base across India and beyond, Jonita continues to be a powerful presence in the music industry—both on stage and off.