Actress and model Priya Bakshi has shared a troubling late-night experience from Mumbai’s Bandra area. In a video posted on Instagram on February 14, she alleged that an auto driver took a route she did not recognise and refused to stop the vehicle despite her repeated requests. Priya Bakshi, who made her Bollywood debut with the political drama JNU: Jahangir National University, said the incident happened while she was heading home from Bandra at night.
In the video, Priya Bakshi appears visibly upset as she questions the driver about the route he is taking. She claimed that even Google Maps did not show the road he was using. The driver can be heard saying, "Map mein route nahi bata raha hai, yehi sahi raasta hai." As she grew more concerned, Priya repeatedly asked him to stop the auto. She is heard saying, "Auto roko bhaiya, main police ko phone kar dungi. Aap auto roko. Bhaiya, aap kahan se leke ja rahe ho? Please auto roko. Mujhe aapke saath nahi jana hai..." According to Priya, the driver reacted angrily when she questioned him. She eventually got out of the vehicle and recorded herself standing by the roadside.
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After stepping out, Priya Bakshi expressed her frustration in the video. She said, "Mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai yahan khade rehne ka. Hum North Indians ko trash ki tarah treat kiya ja raha hai. I am done with this! I am not going to take this shit. Seriously?" In her caption, she said that the real issue was not just about the route, but about the driver’s reaction. She wrote that being unfamiliar with a city does not make someone inferior and asking questions should not be seen as disrespectful. She added that belonging to a different region does not make someone an outsider or strange.
Priya Bakshi urged people to move beyond regional stereotypes and treat everyone with respect. She said that cities like Mumbai belong to everyone, regardless of where they come from. She also clarified that the video was part of a paid collaboration with a brand.
At the time of writing, there has been no official statement from the local authorities regarding the matter. The video has sparked debate online, with many users discussing safety concerns during late-night travel in Mumbai.