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Meet “Rhiya Ahir”: The Girl Behind Viral Police Vehicle Stopping Pic Who Posts “Exclusive” Subscription Content

By
The Commune
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Rhiya Ekousiya, the 27-year-old Mumbai-based model and entrepreneur who became an overnight sensation after blocking a police van during the student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, is now facing scrutiny over her motivations. While her act of defiance was initially hailed as a symbol of civic courage, her subsequent statements about her career ambitions have led to questions about whether the dramatic confrontation was a calculated move for fame.

Ahir, who also goes by Rhiya Ahir or Rhiya Ekousiya on social media, gained widespread attention after a video of her standing in front of a police van for roughly 40 minutes in heavy rain went viral.

The incident occurred near Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, where police were detaining student demonstrators over alleged examination paper leaks.

People started taking pictures of her from vantage points and edited it to make her the face of the protest.

The daughter of an ITBP officer, she credited her upbringing for her civic awareness

However, speaking to journalist Barkha Dutt, Ahir candidly discussed her ambitions, revealing a long-standing desire for global recognition. “My dream is to become a global star. Okay, I’ll tell you what it is. I have mapped it all out. Probably this is like a stepping stone if I can get it in the right direction, if there’s anyone who would like to help me with combining all these together, I would love it,” she said.

She further linked her composure during the protest to her background in theatre. “I started doing theatre when I was 13, so I have done theatre for 13 years of my life and I’ve stood my stage there, probably that’s what manifested in me standing my ground here.”

These comments have fueled public discourse, with platforms like Reddit pointing out that her actions may have been motivated by self-promotion. It is noted that Ahir had already configured a paid subscription tier on her Instagram account before the protest, though her subscriber count surged dramatically following the viral video. Reports suggest she began selling subscriptions priced at ₹140 for exclusive content shortly after the incident, further intensifying the debate.

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