Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 13: Popular television actress Rupali Ganguly has ignited a wave of public sentiment after becoming the first Indian celebrity to openly call for a boycott of Turkey, urging fellow Indians to cancel travel plans to the country in response to Turkey’s recent pro-Pakistan stance.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Anupamaa star wrote:

“Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey. This is my request to all Indian Celebs/Influencers/Travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians. #BoycottTurkey.”

Ganguly’s post quickly gained traction online, sparking widespread debate and garnering support from users who echoed her sentiments. One user responded, “Absolutely! Indigo and all Indian airlines must suspend flights to Turkey. Let’s not fund those who support attacks on our soldiers.” Another wrote, “Done. Cancelled my family trip.”

Her call comes amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions, particularly after Turkey and Azerbaijan issued public statements siding with Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor—a military campaign that targeted terror camps. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry criticized the strikes as a “provocative step,” while Azerbaijan offered condolences to alleged victims of the operation. These comments sparked outrage across Indian social media platforms.

The momentum behind the boycott was further strengthened when actor Kushal Tandon revealed that his mother, Sandhya Tandon, had canceled her upcoming Turkey trip despite significant financial losses from non-refundable bookings.

Posting on Instagram, he wrote:

“My mom and her friends were planning to go next month. Now they’ve cancelled the entire trip, even with no refunds from hotels and airlines. Do your bit.”

The growing #BoycottTurkey campaign reflects a rising sense of nationalism among Indian citizens and celebrities alike, with many seeing a travel boycott as a symbolic yet meaningful way to protest international support for Pakistan in the face of Indian counter-terror efforts.