Ever since the Joy Awards were held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 17, Turkish actor Hande Erçel has found herself unexpectedly dominating headlines in India. While the awards night brought together several global celebrities, it was a misunderstanding involving Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan that sparked widespread chatter on social media, eventually forcing Hande to step in and clarify the truth herself.
The controversy began soon after videos from the star-studded evening started circulating online. Shah Rukh Khan, who co-hosted the Joy Awards, was one of the most talked-about figures at the event. Around the same time, a clip featuring Hande Erçel also went viral, with many users claiming that she was filming Shah Rukh on stage and reacting like a devoted fan. The narrative quickly snowballed, with several posts suggesting that Hande had referred to Shah Rukh Khan as an “uncle,” allegedly dismissing the idea that she admired him.
Fuel was added to the fire when a screenshot began circulating on social media platforms, claiming to be from Hande’s Instagram Stories. The alleged story read, “Who is this uncle? I was just filming @aminakhalilofficial, I am not his fan!! Please stop spreading false information!!” The screenshot was widely shared, leading to speculation that the Turkish star had denied knowing Shah Rukh Khan altogether and had even used dismissive language while doing so.
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the screengrab along with a detailed claim stating that Shah Rukh Khan had attended the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh and that Hande Erçel’s viral clip had been misinterpreted. According to the post, reports falsely portrayed her as Shah Rukh’s fangirl, while she supposedly rejected the claim and referred to him as “uncle.”
This is fake.
— Hande Erçel (@HandeErcel) January 20, 2026
However, the speculation came to an abrupt halt when Hande herself responded directly to the post. In a brief but firm reply, she wrote, “This is fake.” With just two words, the actor shut down the rumour entirely, making it clear that the circulating screenshot and the claims attached to it were not true.
Her response was met with strong reactions from fans across the globe. Supporters of Hande Erçel rallied behind her, criticising the spread of misinformation and expressing sympathy for the unnecessary controversy she was pulled into. One fan wrote, “We will always be here to defend you. I’m so sorry you have to go through this, my love.” Another user apologised on behalf of those spreading false narratives, calling the situation “embarrassing.”
Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan’s fans also joined the conversation, defending the actor and calling out the false claims. One fan commented sarcastically, “Imagine waking up daily just to lie about SRK and still getting fact checked by the person you dragged into it.” The incident highlighted how quickly misinformation can spread online and how celebrities are often forced to respond to narratives they never created.
For clarity, the original video that sparked the confusion showed Hande filming her friend Amina Khalil, who was co-hosting the Joy Awards alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Many viewers mistakenly assumed that Hande’s camera was focused on Shah Rukh, leading to the incorrect conclusion that she was reacting to him. This misunderstanding, combined with a fake screenshot, was enough to generate viral headlines before being debunked.
While the controversy has now been laid to rest, it once again underscores the scrutiny faced by international stars when they attend globally covered events. Hande Erçel, one of Turkey’s most popular actors, enjoys a massive fan following across several countries, including India, making her particularly vulnerable to such viral misinterpretations.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan continues to remain in the spotlight for his professional commitments. After a remarkable 2023 that saw him dominate the box office with Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki, the Bollywood superstar is currently busy shooting for King, directed by Siddharth Anand. The film is especially significant as it marks the big-screen collaboration of Shah Rukh with his daughter, Suhana Khan. The ensemble cast also includes Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, and several other prominent names.
As fans await further updates on King, the Joy Awards incident serves as a reminder of how easily misinformation can spiral in the age of social media—and how sometimes, a simple clarification from the person involved is enough to put an end to it.