Strangers on the Internet body-shame her daily, but this 11-year-old smiles through it all. Not missing a beat, she calmly applies her mascara while schooling the haters on a rare medical condition she suffers from
Gunit Kaur Banga is an aspirational influencer who was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at six. Pics/Kirti Surve Parade
I think you should add some exercise to your routine.” The occasional “Someone take her phone away”, and the pièce de résistance: “Gym ja beta [go to the gym, kid]” — these are the kind of comments that 11-year-old Gunit Kaur Banga gets on her Instagram videos, mostly comprising dance and makeup tutorials.
“Kuch DMs mein bad language bhi rehti hai [some DMs have bad language too],” Banga tells us when we meet her and the family in Sion. Her mother Chanpreet Kaur Banga, 34, has been deleting profanity-filled DMs and nasty comments since one of the tween’s dance videos first went viral two years ago. Banga lives with a medical condition known as nephrotic syndrome, which causes the kidney to leak too much protein into urine. That, in turn, has caused swelling and weight gain in Banga’s case.
“She had never addressed the health issues before, despite what she had been going through since such a very early age. We just wanted her to do something that makes her happy. She has always had this light that shone so bright ever since she was a baby; we knew there was no stopping her,” says Chanpreet.
In the past few months, while the algorithm has been Banga’s friend, bringing her more followers — now at 27,000 — the comments have been anything but friendly. Along with new followers, says Chanpreet, came the hate and body-shaming. “I wanted to shut the Instagram page. I told Gunit she would find some other way to shine. But she just told me to ignore the haters, they didn’t matter. She wants to continue making videos; she has big dreams,” says Chanpreet of her daughter who wants to become a social media influencer and actor.
Gunit with her elder sister Anit (l), and parents Jasmeet Singh Banga and mother Chanpreet Banga
She adds: “It was around this time that Gunit asked me if she could post a video addressing her health.” On May 8, Banga put out a Reel on her Instagram (@gunit_banga) explaining nephrotic syndrome and how she has been suffering from it since she was six years old. “The neighbourhood kids I play with, especially the boys, would often tease me. Online, people were relentlessly mean. I wanted to tell them what I have been through. There are still people making snide comments, but the intensity has decreased in the last two weeks,” says Banga, whose words speak of a grace and maturity beyond her 11 years. It’s only her twinkling eyes, open smile, and her unassuming, green Winnie the Pooh t-shirt and navy blue Spongebob Squarepants skort that belie her age.
In a three-part video series, the tween does her usual makeup tutorial with a voice-over about what has been happening with her health. “The women in my family have a history of the disease, so when I began to show similar symptoms my nani asked my mother to get me checked. At first, we went to many children’s hospitals, until someone finally suggested we go to a kidney specialist. The specialist confirmed it was nephrotic syndrome and I was told to go on steroids, but my mom didn’t want that. So I went through the alternative route for a while, but nothing worked,” narrates Banga.
Banga with cousin and best friend Kanish Kaur Banga
Chanpreet recalls a painful biopsy that was conducted to confirm exactly which subtype of the condition Banga had: “The biopsy was tough since they took out a small piece of the kidney. When she came out of anaesthesia, she was screaming. I couldn’t take it and asked my sister-in-law to go in [to the patient room] because I was unable to keep it together.”
Chanpreet’s sister-in-law, Jimmy Kaur Banga, lives in the same building. She looks at Banga with the same adoring expression as Chanpreet. “Among the Punjabis, no one addresses health issues so openly. But she spoke about it and we are just so proud of her not getting bogged down by people who body-shame her on every video. Once, someone had used her photo as a GIF to make fun of plus-size people. But Gunit is unstoppable,” Jimmy emphasises.
“Isn’t she a pro? We are so proud of her, she was born to be in front of the camera,” she adds, smiling at the young Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon superfan. Banga’s grandmother, Gurjit Kaur Arora, chimes in, “Her mother had a chance in Bollywood, but they asked us to cut her hair short. Maybe Gunit will complete her mother’s wish.” She then goes back to her chants of the Jaap Sahib, which she tracks with a tally counter.
Jimmy Kaur Banga and Gurjit Kaur Banga
Banga’s cousin and BFF, Kanish, 8, swoops in and runs off with the gadget, making a beeline for the star of the moment. “I love Gunit’s videos, she’s just great,” says Kanish. She and Banga are joined at the hip, spending all day playing, dancing and cuddling. When Banga records her makeup videos, Kanish patiently watches her apply her eyeliner with a steady hand.
“We had a sleepover last night, we barely slept,” she says. Amid the boisterous chaos of the household, we turn to Banga and can see the signs of sleep deprivation. Looking tired, she asks for a cup of tea and some biscuits with politeness that would put British high society to shame. “I am currently on steroids because I became very weak. Doctors told me that I will grow out of the disease after 15 [years of age],” she says with a shy smile.
“I hope I will get better, and ask that everyone prays for me and others who have this disease; we all should get well soon,” she says, as we take her leave. We hope so too, little one.
‘It can lead to kidney failure’
Dr Sharad Sheth
Nephrotic syndrome occurs more often in South Asian countries than in Western countries. Research has shown that around one to two per cent of Indians are afflicted with this, and it occurs in individuals when they are extremely young. Some 30 per cent of those who suffer from nephrotic syndrome are genetically prone to get it. For 70 per cent it is an autoimmune disease. Most children who get it because of genetics have a 50 per cent chance of outgrowing it; in those who don’t outgrow it, it eventually leads to kidney failure.
- Dr Sharad Sheth, Consultant and Head, Nephrology, Kokilaben Hospital
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes your body to pass too much protein in your urine, which causes swelling in the body along with resulting weight gain. It is also characterised by loss of appetite, accompanied by weight loss for some. A 2020 report by researchers from the Government Medical College and Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital in Jammu reveals that 12 to 16 children out of every one lakh in India are likely to get the disease. This is much higher than the incidence in Western countries, which is two to three cases in every one lakh children, states the report.
‘Community is like family’
Bhavika Valecha
As a PR professional working with content creators, we always encourage them to lead with honesty and authenticity. When there’s negativity or hate, the best response isn’t always to defend — it’s to share their truth and stay true to their community. For content creators, their community is like family, and opening up about personal experiences helps build a deeper connection. It’s not about reacting to hate, it’s about being real. And people always connect with that kind of honesty.
- Bhavika Valecha, Founder of Affluent India PR
A resilient generation
Nyana Sabharwal
Today’s children, particularly those from Gen Alpha, are demonstrating resilience. With greater access to information, and increasingly supportive environments, many are learning to express themselves and face challenges — such as online bullying — with maturity well beyond their years. At the same time, more parents are becoming proactive and informed, seeking therapy, educating themselves, and fostering open lines of communication to create a safe and nurturing home environment.
As adults, we recognise that children are growing up in a world where complete protection from external risks isn’t always possible. This makes it all the more vital to strengthen internal protective factors. These include open and non-judgemental family dialogue, healthy self-esteem not solely based on achievements, emotional security at home, strong peer connections, effective problem-solving skills, and a sense of belonging and community. These elements play a crucial role in equipping children to navigate the evolving challenges of their generation with resilience and confidence.
- Nyana Sabharwal, Psychotherapist
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
