Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna are the latest targets of online trolling — and it’s all because of a vada pav. A promotional event for their upcoming film Cocktail 2 has gone viral for an unexpected reason: netizens claim the actors only pretended to eat the iconic Mumbai street snack while cameras rolled.
The video, which surfaced on social media, shows the trio posing with the deep-fried potato fritter tucked into a bun. As the cameras captured the moment, Shahid, Kriti, and Rashmika lifted the vada pav to their mouths and appeared to take bites. But eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice a glaring issue — the food barely touched their lips.
The Vada Pav That Fooled No One
The promotional activity seemed like a fun way to connect with fans and pay homage to Mumbai’s street food culture. However, the actors’ bites looked suspiciously staged. In the video, Shahid brings the vada pav close to his mouth but doesn’t actually sink his teeth in. Kriti and Rashmika follow suit, giving the food a quick air-kiss before pulling away, all while flashing smiles for the cameras.
Within hours, the clip was being shared across platforms with captions like “Bollywood’s finest actors and their award-winning mime skills” and “Vada pav ko bhi acting sikha gaye.” The hashtag #VadaPavGate started trending on X, with users posting freeze-frames and slow-motion edits to prove the actors didn’t take a single bite.
Netizens Serve Up a Feast of Reactions
Social media had a field day with the footage. One user wrote, “Imagine being paid crores and still can’t afford to eat a ₹20 vada pav on camera.” Another quipped, “Shahid Kapoor ne toh vada pav ko bhi method acting kar diya — not a single crumb sacrificed.” A third fan joked, “Kriti and Rashmika are saving calories for the film’s climax. Priorities, guys.”
Some even compared the moment to infamous fake-eating scenes from past films, calling it “the most unrealistic bite since Raj Kapoor in Shree 420.” The trolling wasn’t malicious, though — most comments were lighthearted and playful, with fans demanding the actors actually eat a vada pav live during their next promotional stop.
Cocktail 2 Promotions Get a Flavorful Twist
This vada pav incident comes as the Cocktail 2 team ramps up its promotional activities ahead of the film’s release. The sequel to the 2012 hit Cocktail features Shahid, Kriti, and Rashmika in lead roles, and the buzz around the film has been growing steadily. While the fake bite controversy is harmless fun, it has certainly got people talking — and eating vada pav.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s street food vendors are reportedly thrilled with the free publicity. Several stalls have started offering a “Cocktail 2 Special Vada Pav” with extra chutney. Whether Shahid, Kriti, and Rashmika will actually eat one in public remains to be seen, but for now, the internet is having its fill of laughs.