Yash Raj Films (YRF) has responded to claims that its promotion of Mardaani 3 sensationalised reports of missing girls in Delhi. The controversy followed a surge of social media posts and influencer activity highlighting claims that more than 800 people went missing within 15 days in the capital, coinciding with the release of Rani Mukerji starrer and causing public concern.
A spokesperson told SCREEN, “Yash Raj Films is a 50-year-old company founded on the core principles of being highly ethical and transparent. We strongly deny the accusations floating on social media that Mardaani 3’s promotional campaign has deliberately sensationalised a sensitive issue like this. We have immense trust in our authorities that they will share all facts and truths in due course of time.”
YRF maintained that any
association of its campaign with the reported data is unfounded.
The reports gained traction online, prompting intervention from the Delhi Police. Authorities confirmed the data’s authenticity but questioned the way it was presented. It cautioned about the impact of viral narratives on public perception.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police released a statement expressing concern over the motivations behind the online discussions, saying the narrative was being pushed through ‘paid promotions’ for monetary gains.
"After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals," Delhi Police said in a post on X.