Shehzad Poonawalla Fires Back at Rhiya Ahir’s ‘Uncle’ Jibe, Drags Rahul Gandhi Into ‘Bigg Boss’ Spat
The social media spat between Shehzad Poonawalla and Rhiya Ahir over her *Bigg Boss 20* rejection escalates. After being called 'uncle,' Poonawalla hits back with a sharp retort, correcting Ahir's age claim and making a controversial reference to Rahul Gandhi's age and IQ, further fueling the Bollywood celebrity-news controversy.
The public spat between former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and Mumbai-based model Rhiya Ahir, ignited by her failed bid to enter Bigg Boss 20, has escalated further with fresh exchanges on social media. The feud, which began with Poonawalla mocking Ahir's absence from the reality show, took a personal turn as Ahir referred to him as 'uncle', leading to Poonawalla's latest stinging rebuttal that included a dig at her age calculation and an unprompted mention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The latest war of words unfolded on September 9, 2026, drawing significant attention online. ‘Bigg Boss 20’ Contestant List: Mary Kom, Isha Rikhi, Aasif Khan and Other Celebs Join Salman Khan’s Reality Show.
What Did Shehzad Poonawalla Say About Rhiya Ahir?
The controversy began when Shehzad Poonawalla took to social media to mock Rhiya Ahir after she lost a public-voted spot on Bigg Boss 20 to Punjabi actress Love Gill. Poonawalla stated, "I'm sorry you were kicked out even before you entered Bigg Boss house".
Poonawalla further alleged that Ahir intended to use the Bigg Boss platform to "spread anti-national and anti-Sanatan ideas" and claimed her viral protest photograph, where she was seen stopping a police van during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, was a "scripted photo" part of a broader "left-wing ecosystem" and "anti-Modi" agenda.
Rhiya Ahir's Response
Rhiya Ahir quickly responded to Poonawalla's comments through a series of reels on Instagram. She started by addressing him with a sarcastic, "Namaste, respected Shehzaab, Shehbaz, Shehzaab, Poonawalla Uncle". While expressing that she was "flattered" by his attention, Ahir firmly requested him to "keep your big nose out of my personal business and life".
She accused Poonawalla of having a "history of 'cornering young girls'" and highlighted their age difference, noting that at 28, she felt he, at 38, was "more than twice my age". She urged him to "go do politics with people of your own age and men like you, not little girls". Ahir also challenged Poonawalla to provide evidence for his claim that she disrespected the Indian Army and dismissed Bigg Boss as an inappropriate platform for political messaging.
Rhiya Ahir Calls Out Shehzad Poonawalla
View this post on Instagram
Shehzad Poonawalla's Latest Response to Her 'Uncle' Remark
Poonawalla was quick to retort to Ahir's "uncle" jibe and age-related comments, further intensifying the exchange. He clarified the age difference, stating, "You are 28, you are not a 'young girl' and I'm 38, so technically I'm not twice your age". He also linked her to political figures, remarking, "Perhaps you should have known better that Rahul Gandhi can't win his own elections, aapko kya jitayega (how will he make you win)". ‘Bigg Boss 20’: Kanika Mann, Arishfa Khan, Love Gill and Uditi Singh Nominated in First Week.
Shehzad Poonawalla Counters Riya Ahir ‘Uncle’ Jibe
Dearest Rhiya,
I’m sure you don’t know about me. That’s ok. After all your IQ & knowledge matches Rahul’s and we saw that right when you were asked about Vande Mataram…
I’m sorry you were kicked out even before you entered Bigg Boss house
Perhaps you should have known better… https://t.co/8mTGzZPtKl
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) September 9, 2026
Shehzad Poonawalla's Latest Post on Rhiya Ahir
Dil 💓 se appeal by your 38 year old “uncle”
Now let’s move on https://t.co/ouziGQhTTT pic.twitter.com/CF8aEGfK2E
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) September 10, 2026
He then took a sharp jab at her math skills, quipping, "Clearly maths was never your strong point at school". Poonawalla continued his attack by joking that Ahir might have confused him with "another 56-year-old Rahul Gandhi", and commented that her "IQ & knowledge matches Rahul's". He concluded his response by dismissing her other remarks as "attention-seeking behaviour" and "ramblings" that "deserve no attention".
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2026 11:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
