The upcoming web series Ziddi Girls has landed in controversy following the release of its trailer, which was shot at Delhi University’s prestigious Miranda House. The series, set in a fictional elite institute named Matilda House—frequently referred to as MH—has drawn criticism from the college’s administration and students, who claim it misrepresents their institution.

Miranda House principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda has expressed strong disappointment, stating she feels “betrayed” by the show’s depiction, especially given that its director, Shonali Bose, is an alumna of the college. “I feel betrayed… I have always admired Shonali’s strong filmography. When she approached us with this project, I believed it would be another inspiring piece of work. After all, she is one of our own—why would she portray Miranda in a negative light? As a reputed alumna, this breaks my heart even more,” Nanda told the media.

Student Backlash and Administrative Action

Several current students have also voiced their discontent, calling the show’s portrayal of their college “regressive.” They argue that the trailer does not accurately reflect the values and culture of Miranda House. The controversy has further intensified due to the involvement of prominent alumnae, including actor and filmmaker Nandita Das, in the cast.

Nanda revealed that the college administration has taken formal steps against the misrepresentation. “What is shown in the trailer does not align with the reality of our students. We have written to the filmmakers, demanding that they take down the objectionable trailer and remove the short-form reference to ‘MH’ as a matter of urgency,” she said. Reassuring the student body, she added, “Miranda House stands with its students, and we will do everything in our capacity to protect the prestige of our institution.”

Silence from the Show’s Creators

Despite the backlash, the makers of Ziddi Girls have reportedly stopped responding to the college’s concerns after an initial exchange. When approached for a comment, Shonali Bose dismissed the allegations in a brief message: “Watch the show, no betrayal!”

With mounting criticism and calls for action, it remains to be seen whether the show’s creators will address the concerns raised by the Miranda House community or if the controversy will escalate further ahead of the series’ release.