‘Back to being a RAW agent’: Badhan takes a jab at conspiracy theorists

In a witty Facebook post that has since gone viral, actress Azmeri Haque Badhan has offered a scathing commentary on how quickly public perception, and sometimes diplomatic scrutiny, can spiral into absurdity.

"Back to being a RAW agent again — what a journey!" Badhan wrote, referring to India's foreign intelligence agency, in a clear jab at the often baseless allegations that have followed her and many others over the years.

The post then outlines a series of personal and professional hurdles she faced, particularly surrounding her role in "Khufiya", a 2023 Bollywood espionage thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and starring the renowned Tabu.

"I was a proud RAW agent when I acted in the beautiful Bollywood film 'Khufiya', she quipped while reaffirming that it is still available on Netflix. However, she was met with an unexpected obstacle: she was denied a visa by the Indian High Commission five times. Badhan added that two of those visa interviews focused heavily on a social media photo featuring her and VP Noor at a US Embassy event.

Though eventually granted a one-month single-entry visa after high-level intervention, the ordeal cost her multiple professional opportunities in both Bollywood and Kolkata. "Oh — and according to two influential sources, one of the lead actresses from the film might have had something to do with my visa troubles," she added, leaving just enough ambiguity to keep readers guessing.

During the July Uprising protests in Dhaka last year, she was accused of being a CIA agent, allegedly funded by USAID. A video shared later earned her the tag of a Jamaat agent. One friend even suggested she must be with Mossad.

And now, once again, she says she's been labelled a RAW agent—this time by a politically connected friend who half-seriously asked if she had "taken money."

"What a terrific society we live in," the actress mused. "When people don't love their country unconditionally, they assume no one else does either."

Ending her post with a lighthearted disclaimer, she added, "It's a fun post. Relax. Smile. And maybe think a little," striking a balance between humour and pointed social critique.

The post has sparked lively discussion online, with many applauding her honesty and resilience in the face of relentless character assassinations and geopolitical overreach.

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