Bollywood diva Malaika Arora is back in the spotlight, this time for her collaboration with rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh in the upcoming music video Chillgum, part of his latest album 51 Glorious Days. The teaser, released on November 7, promised a burst of 90s-style glitz, complete with neon lights, flashy outfits, and high-energy choreography. However, what was meant to evoke nostalgia has instead sparked controversy, with many netizens calling the visuals “vulgar” and “forced.”
In the short clip, Malaika performs dynamic dance moves alongside Honey Singh, channeling the bold glamour that once defined her hit item numbers like Chaiyya Chaiyya and Munni Badnaam Hui. Yet, fans argue that Chillgum falls short of her usual grace. The backlash intensified after a behind-the-scenes image from the shoot surfaced on Reddit, showing Malaika playfully sticking out her tongue while twerking near the rapper. The image quickly went viral, with critics accusing the video of crossing the line between bold and distasteful.
Social media platforms were soon flooded with divided opinions. “It’s because she can’t do it properly, that’s why it seems vulgar,” one user commented, blaming the choreography rather than the performer. Another added, “Sunidhi Chauhan’s Aankh with Sanya Malhotra was powerful and stylish. This one feels awkward.” A third critic noted, “You can get away with bold moves if they’re executed with class. Malaika’s older performances had that finesse—this one doesn’t.”
For Malaika, who has long been celebrated as Bollywood’s symbol of sophisticated sensuality, the criticism has been unusually sharp. Many fans expressed disappointment that Chillgum doesn’t align with her elegant screen persona. Meanwhile, for Honey Singh—known for chartbusters like Brown Rang, Desi Kalakaar and Love Dose—the uproar is familiar territory. His flamboyant, boundary-pushing music videos have often divided audiences, and Chillgum appears to be no exception.
Neither Malaika nor Honey Singh has responded to the backlash, but the anticipation for the full video remains strong. Fans are hopeful that the complete version will offer context missing from the teaser. Regardless of the controversy, Chillgum has succeeded in generating massive buzz, uniting two entertainment icons from different eras and reigniting debate about how far Bollywood can push the limits of style and sensuality.
Malaika doing such things at this age is ewwing me out
byu/wdym_adi inBollyBlindsNGossip
