Ranbir Kapoor finally broke his silence on the entire Mahira Khan controversy. Paparazzi snapped him smoking and chilling with the Pakistani actress in NYC and the pictures took the internet by storm. Immediately, Mahira was the victim of hate messages and slut shaming.

RK told a leading daily, "I've gotten to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months. She is somebody who I admire and respect, for her achievements and even more for the person she is. It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also said is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives. Peace and Love."

Sarcastically he further added, "PS: Both smoking and hate are injurious to health."

Recently, daddy Rishi Kapoor came to rescue and defended his young and single son’s right to meet anybody. He made it clear to the media that if people are going to invade his privacy, it’s not done.

Also coming to Mahira’s defense was Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar. He took to social media to show his support, "Every woman has the right to make her own choices in life (as long as she's not hurting anyone else) just like we men do," his post read.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZVYwxIn5vB/?hl=en&taken-by=ali_zafar

Mahira, a single mother to son Azlaan, was slut-shamed by fans and trolled for wearing short dress and smoking, post the pictures surfaced. She was introduced to RK by her Raees co-star Shah Rukh Khan.  The pictures were taken in July, in New York City where Ranbir was shooting for Raj Kumar Hirani helmed Dutt.