By Anil Merani: Rubina Dilaik’s clash with Asim Riaz on the reality show Battleground in April 2025, where Asim reportedly insulted her during a heated altercation with co-judge Abhishek Malhan, sparked significant reactions from her fanbase. Known for her roles in Choti Bahu, Shakti, and her Bigg Boss 14 victory, Rubina commands a loyal following of over 10 million on Instagram, often praised for her resilience and professionalism. The controversy, coupled with her husband Abhinav Shukla’s vocal defence and subsequent death threats, elicited a mix of fierce support, criticism of Asim, and some nuanced takes from fans, as seen across social media platforms like X and YouTube.
1. Fierce Support and Defense of Rubina
Rubina’s fans rallied strongly behind her, viewing her as a victim of Asim’s disrespectful behaviour. A viral clip from Battleground showed Asim yelling, “This is not a serial,” questioning Rubina’s fitness credentials, which fans found offensive given her stature as a TV icon. On X, a post from a fan account (@Rubinadilaik_14
) declared, “Rubina ITV icon coming back like a lioness on two different shows after delivering two babies is the biggest sign of fitness, not a random gym guy attacking her career and fitness,” reflecting admiration for her resilience post-motherhood and condemnation of Asim’s alleged substance use.
YouTube comments on the clip praised Rubina’s composure, with one user stating, “Asim ki baatein bas chillane tak thi, Rubina ki soch samajhne walon ke liye kaafi thi” (Asim’s words were just noise, Rubina’s wisdom spoke volumes). Another wrote, “Awaazon se nahi, akal se baat hoti hai, Rubina jahan khadi ho, wahi se raah hoti hai” (It’s not about noise but intellect, Rubina paves the way wherever she stands), highlighting her dignified response. Fans celebrated her acceptance of Asim’s apology, mediated by judge Shikhar Dhawan, as a mark of maturity, reinforcing her image as a class act.
2. Outrage Against Asim Riaz
The fanbase’s anger was directed at Asim, whose history of reality show conflicts (Khatron Ke Khiladi 14, Bigg Boss 13) fueled perceptions of him as a habitual troublemaker. Fans on X called for his “ban,” labelling him a “clown” and criticizing his “delusional” post-exit narrative where he claimed to have “kicked the script.” His cryptic middle-finger Instagram post captioned “SCRIPTED” was seen as defiance, further antagonizing Rubina’s supporters. One X user remarked, “Asim’s fans need to see he’s just picking fights for clout,” reflecting frustration with his behaviour and his fanbase’s defence. The death threats Abhinav received, allegedly from Asim’s fans linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, intensified the backlash, with Rubina’s fans expressing shock and demanding accountability.
3. Support for Abhinav’s Defense
Abhinav’s outspoken criticism of Asim, including accusations of performance-enhancing substance use (“All jacked up, no brain and bad attitude”), resonated with Rubina’s fans, who saw it as a justified defence of her honour…