The High Court has upheld the Talwars' appeal against the special CBI court order, which had convicted them in 2013 of the murder of their 14-year-old daughter. Reactions across the country have been mixed. However, B-town has been coming out in support of the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the double murder of their daughter Aarushi and house-help Hemraj.

“Nothing worse than parents accused of their own daughter’s murder. And then horrible sordid made up stories lapped up by media,” tweeted Shekhar Kapur. Vishal Bhardwaj, who had also produced a film Talvar on this case which had gripped the nation, commented, “Justice delayed is NOT justice denied. Overwhelmed and deeply relieved upon hearing the news of the acquittal.” Aditi Rao Hydari shared, “So happy to hear that the court has acquitted these brave parents who've been through hell and back,” while Kabir Bedi had sent his wishes in prior to the verdict, “My prayers are for Rajesh and Nupur #Talwar who await #AarushiVerdict tomorrow. May they finally spend #Diwali at home.”

Meghna Gulzar, who had directed Talvar, called it a “triumph of justice”. I can only imagine what the parents must have gone through, she said, adding that with her film, she had tried to present a neutral narrative of the case. Meghna claims that she did not do the film to tell the story of a particular side; their intention all along was to see that all the versions of the case were out in the open. “I think this is what has happened in this appeal. The facts and testimonies were examined carefully,” she points out.

Vishal Bhardwaj believes the acquittal strengthens his faith in the Indian judicial system. Relieved to hear of their acquittal, he states that it pains him to think about the precious years lost in prison and the emotional trauma that the Talwars had to go through, “to the extent that they could not even mourn their daughter's demise”.