The Bollywood power couple's choice for their daughter’s name has social media buzzing — unpacking the frenzy and what it says about names, tradition, and identity
When Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh introduced their daughter, “Dua Padukone Singh,” to the world on Diwali, they probably expected a moment of collective celebration. Instead, they sparked a firestorm. Suddenly everyone on social media had opinions, and then some, about their daughter’s name. “Dua? Like the pop star Dua Lipa?” wrote a user on X. “Why not Prarthna? They’re Hindu, aren’t they?” wrote another. And just like that, a baby name came to be charged with existential questions of national identity, tradition, and loyalty. “Dua” — a lovely, two-syllable name with its roots in Arabic, meaning “prayer” — stirred the kind of debate usually reserved for election season. Who knew that naming your newborn in 2024 could feel like a political act? Since this is Bollywood we are talking about, a little drama is par for the course.
Right-wing social media users were furious: “Dua? Why a Muslim name?” wrote one commenter, as if Ranveer and Deepika had just announced plans to dismantle the entire cultural framework of the country. Other responses hinted (okay, demanded) that the couple’s Hindu faith required them to choose something… well, Hinduer, if that’s even a word. The comments came fast and, unfortunately, not very thoughtful. Then came the linguistic detectives. “If they wanted ‘prayer,’ why not go with ‘Prarthna’? Hindi is the official language, after all!” Now, who’s going to break it to them that language, like love, doesn’t always adhere to one single standard? Or that Bollywood itself has historically borrowed liberally from languages and cultures far beyond India’s shores?
Languages are actually related
Let’s be real: Had Deepika and Ranveer named their child Prarthna or Laxmi or any other traditional Hindu name, the announcement would have probably been met with warm congratulatory messages, a few heart emojis, and maybe a comment or two about future star potential. But “Dua”? Oh, the audacity! The name sounds worldly, multicultural, a bit like a whisper of cosmopolitanism on an otherwise quiet night. But in choosing it, they’ve inadvertently walked into the crossfire of right-wing trolls. This begs the question: Are celebrity children now expected to serve as cultural icons from birth? It’s as if the choice of name is no longer about parental affection or personal meaning, but a barometer of national pride. Forget formula and diapers; the real question is whether their name honours their “roots.” But as one social media user so sagely put it: “Um, maybe it’s none of our business?” Touché.
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For those offended by the “Muslim” name, it might come as a shock to learn that Urdu, Hindi, and Sanskrit haven’t exactly been living in gated communities. There’s an entire history of these languages blending, borrowing, and intermingling for centuries. So if “Dua” — which, yes, has roots in Arabic — doesn’t feel “Indian enough,” it’s not exactly the fault of Deepika and Ranveer. Linguistic purists might want to sit down, but words are a bit like Bollywood itself: messy, mixed, and often delightfully chaotic. Names are meant to be personal, a quiet nod to one’s dreams and hopes, but we live in an age where a baby’s name can become a debate on cultural belonging. When Ranveer once expressed his openness to changing his surname to “Padukone,” some people were taken aback. Now, with “Dua,” they’ve really done it.
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Love, not a label
So, why all the fuss? At the core of this debate is a fixation on cultural ownership: that if a celebrity makes a choice, they must be held to a higher standard of “authenticity” that reflects an idealised version of tradition. But names, like people, have stories. No matter how you slice it, “Dua” is a lovely, soft name that resonates with hope. But when did we become so focused on demanding conformity? Imagine if the world’s great literary characters had to undergo the same scrutiny. Would Scarlett O’Hara be deemed too Southern? Jay Gatsby too flashy? Should we insist that Shakespeare rename Juliet to something more English, lest her Italian roots threaten British identity?
Deepika and Ranveer’s decision to choose a name as cross-cultural and charming as “Dua” is, perhaps, a hint at their own vision for the world: a world where Hindi, Urdu, and English can coexist without raised eyebrows, where names aren’t pressured into performing roles, and where our identities aren’t so distinctly divided along religious or linguistic lines. It wants to prove a point that tradition isn’t a closed box but a treasure trove with a little space for something new. So let’s raise a virtual glass to little Dua Padukone Singh, and hope that maybe, just maybe, the next generation can embrace the world as it is: full of beautiful contradictions. Because in a world where a name is just a name, we’re all free to be ourselves — or to name our children however we please. Cheers, Dua!
