Abhishek Bachchan's Emotional Response to Wife's Body Shaming
Bollywood power couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan married in 2007. They welcomed their daughter Aaradhya in 2011. Following this joyous event, public attention unfortunately shifted to Aishwarya's physical appearance. The actress faced significant body shaming for her post-pregnancy weight, particularly after appearing at the Cannes Film Festival.
Husband's Candid Admission of Distress
While Aishwarya focused on motherhood and largely ignored the criticism, her husband Abhishek expressed genuine upset. In a revealing interview with a leading publication, the actor shared his feelings. He stated clearly that nasty comments about his wife's weight gain deeply troubled him.
"When she became a mother her career took a backseat," Abhishek explained. "Today, she does everything for Aaradhya. She is supermom. Soon after Aaradhya was born, the media went at her about her weight gain. Nasty things were written, which really upset me."
He noted that Aishwarya herself remained unbothered, using the phrase "water off a duck's back" to describe her attitude. Abhishek added an interesting personal detail about her fitness habits. "Anyone who knows her would know that she has never spent a day in the gym," he said. "The only time was when we were shooting Dhoom 2 in 2006, and Uday Chopra, Hrithik Roshan and I dragged her."
Aishwarya Rai's Perspective on Judgment and Self-Belief
The actress addressed the body shaming issue in multiple interviews, framing it within broader discussions about self-worth and sensitivity. Speaking with Rajeev Masand, Aishwarya connected the post-motherhood criticism to a lifetime of facing public judgment.
"It's not just been post motherhood," she clarified. "Contextually, post motherhood, you are referring to specifically body shaming. Because you are looking at it from that aspect of the body frame changing. I am talking about the reason I was able to handle it because I have faced judgement for so long."
In another conversation with DNA, Aishwarya emphasized the importance of self-belief and mutual sensitivity. She highlighted how modern communication platforms make discussions about body shaming particularly relevant today.
"I would like to talk not just about body shaming but this entire sense of self-belief, which is so important to everybody," Aishwarya stated. "It has always been, but today, it's being talked about much more. Also, people need to be sensitive to each other."
She pointed out that individuals now have unprecedented opportunities to share their voices and find support. "A subject like this seems perfect for the present times because communication has become a vital aspect of our lives," the actress observed. "You can be heard by millions, if that's what you seek. You can find a voice that can be a balm to you, in a split second. Hence, a topic like body shaming is ideal to be talked about now."
Embracing Motherhood and Personal Conviction
Aishwarya described motherhood as "the most beautiful feeling in the world," acknowledging hormonal changes but affirming they didn't alter her core self. She reiterated her long-standing advice about comfort and authenticity.
"Way before all this, whenever people would ask me fashion or trend-based questions, I'd always tell them to be comfortable in their skin," she recalled. "At least now you know I meant it and it wasn't just for the quote. I believed it when I said that positivity is so much more than negativity and it can help to ease the crushing impacts of that."
The actress advocated for self-honesty and seeking comfort from trusted connections during difficult times. "Be your best friend and in being so, be brutally honest to yourself," Aishwarya advised. "Sometimes, when you are down, you need to reach out to those people who you think can connect with you and comfort you enough."
Finding Liberation Through Inner Strength
When questioned about feelings of dejection, Aishwarya firmly rejected any notion of self-doubt. She expressed profound happiness in her life with Aaradhya and clarity about her personal choices.
"There was never a point of self-doubt," she asserted. "I'm so happy in my own life with Aaradhya around and the positivity as well as clarity that I have in my head about myself. At the end of the day, these are the choices I'm making. Nobody else is dictating or telling me how to be and what to do."
Aishwarya described this self-assurance as truly liberating. "Once you find that conviction and that voice within, it's liberating," she explained. "Then, someone else's comments don't faze you so easily. It's important to not let anyone's opinion define you. Only you can make that choice and you should, with every little experience you have."
She concluded with a powerful message about responding to negativity without bitterness. "You don't have to be angry or bitter and do things with a take-that-in-your-face kind of attitude," Aishwarya said. "You need to find the comfort in doing that within yourself first and then it may be a positive response to negative comments."
