Ira Khan, the daughter of renowned Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, recently made a public appearance alongside her father at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The event, held on January 18, saw Ira participating with other family members to support two significant causes: the Paani Foundation and the Agatsu Foundation, the latter being her own initiative focused on raising awareness about mental health issues.
Online Criticism and Body-Shaming Incident
Despite her noble intentions, Ira Khan became the target of unwarranted criticism and body-shaming on social media platforms shortly after the marathon. Many internet users took issue with her choice of running attire, which consisted of a simple white tank top and black shorts. The backlash quickly escalated, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) posting a particularly derogatory comment that not only criticized her outfit but also attacked her body type.
The controversial post read: "This is Ira Khan, daughter of Aamir Khan. The problem is not the clothes, it is the body. I do not get why people refuse to dress for their body type and still choose to walk around looking indecent. Decency never goes out of style." The user further added, "Only XL and XXL can have a problem with this post of mine." This remark sparked widespread outrage and debate across social media channels.
Abhinav Shukla's Strong Defense
The offensive tweet did not go unchallenged. Actor Abhinav Shukla publicly slammed the remark and came out in strong support of Ira Khan. In his response, he emphasized that clothing is a matter of personal choice and applauded Ira for being grounded and authentic in her approach to life.
Abhinav wrote: "One Star Kid who is real & down to earth, she don't act entitled, no drama, no show off, no entourage of 5 bouncers & managers... much of the time she and her brother are traveling in a rick dressed up like normal kids." He further added, "What's wrong here I don't understand! She is at least putting an effort to be active! Dressing is purely personal choice." Following Abhinav's intervention, the original derogatory tweet was deleted, highlighting the impact of his stance.
Social Media Backlash Against Body-Shaming
Abhinav Shukla was not alone in defending Ira Khan. Numerous social media users also condemned the troll for body-shaming, expressing their support for Ira and criticizing the regressive mindset behind such comments.
- One user commented: "Body shaming people is such a useless, unnecessary, loser activity. Do better."
- Another said: "It's her life Sapna let her be - this is not fair at all... it's with these posts that we run us women down."
- A third response read: "A very decent thing to do is not to go looking for someone's pictures to post them with an unsolicited commentary. Never goes out of style."
- Another user added: "It's her body and her choice. Dress policing and body shaming are not just regressive, they're deeply sad. Ira Khan and Agastu's work on mental health deserves respect, especially Ira's honest and articulate conversations around depression. Speaking openly about mental health takes courage, and her voice has been genuinely inspiring for many."
Other users echoed similar sentiments, with comments like "Minding your own business is the real decency," and "A woman shaming another woman's body is the lowest form of pick-me behaviour." One post strongly stated: "She's not 'indecent'. You're just uncomfortable seeing a woman exist confidently without asking permission."
Ira Khan's Personal Struggles with Body Image
This incident comes at a time when Ira Khan has been openly discussing her personal struggles with body image on social media. In a recent Instagram post, she candidly shared her experiences grappling with how she perceives her body since 2020, admitting that discussing this topic felt even more daunting than speaking about her depression.
In her heartfelt post, Ira wrote: "Yes, I'm fat. Been oscillating between thinking I'm fat/unfit, becoming overweight and being obese since 2020. There's a lot to be said about it. Definitely things I still need to figure out. But I feel at least a small shift for the better, so I've decided to start talking about it/share. I may not be as articulate or confident as when I spoke about my depression. Unlike like that, this feels a little scary. But I really think it needs to be talked about. I don't have a diagnosed eating disorder, and I'm also not an expert. Just sharing my experiences. Venture into the comment section at your own risk. I know I will be staying far away from it. Let's see how this goes."
Her openness about mental health and body image issues has made her a voice of inspiration for many, particularly in the context of her work with the Agatsu Foundation. The foundation's mission to promote mental health awareness adds significant weight to the current discussion about body-shaming and personal autonomy.
The Tata Mumbai Marathon event, intended to promote health and charitable causes, thus became an unexpected platform for a broader conversation about body positivity, personal choice, and the harmful effects of online trolling. The strong defense from Abhinav Shukla and the social media community underscores a growing awareness and rejection of body-shaming culture in India's public discourse.
