Punjabi influencer and makeup artist Madhusudan Sandhu, popularly known as ‘ Mad Sandhu ’, was shot dead by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in Amritsar on Saturday evening, police said.
Sandhu, who was vocal about LGBTQ+ and gender-related issues, would often hit back at online trolls by saying that “God has made me the way I am”.
Sandhu had built a strong online following through his work as a fashion stylist, makeup artist and digital creator. However, his content and fashion choices also drew criticism from some people.
Punjabi influencer’s response to trolling
“I, too, would sometimes wonder why God had made me this way. Sandhu spoke about growing up in a society with strict expectations of masculinity. He regularly appeared on podcasts and used his social media platforms to share makeup tips and discuss the Punjabi entertainment industry. He had also appeared in the Punjabi film ‘Oye Bhole Oye’. After finishing school in Amritsar, Sandhu’s family sent him to Delhi for higher studies. Sandhu was aware that he could face ridicule and even violence. “Once you accept yourself, people’s comments and the challenges you face will no longer matter as much.
I started feeling suffocated and began locking myself in my room,” he said in a ‘Josh Talks’ video in 2021. His Instagram account had 2.26 lakh followers.
He said he led a “double life” earlier, balancing what society expected of him with his own efforts to understand himself. Sandhu recounted how he once danced “like a girl” during his school’s annual function. some teachers and students mocked him, asking what he had become, he said Although other children’s parents appreciated his performances. He said it was there that he experienced acceptance for the first time. However, after returning to Punjab, he felt he had “once again trapped in a cage”. Through his personal experiences, he said he wanted to encourage others to accept themselves. Life is very short, so enjoy it,” he said.
