Janhvi Kapoor's recent film 'Peddi', released in theatres on June 4, has faced significant backlash for the portrayal of her character Achiyyamma, with critics accusing the film of objectifying the actress. The film, co-starring Ram Charan, has been criticized for its introductory scene of Janhvi's character, where the camera lingers on different parts of her body before revealing her face. This sequence has been condemned for prioritizing the male gaze and visual appeal over meaningful character development.
Old Clip of Ratna Pathak Shah Goes Viral
Amidst the controversy, an old clip of veteran actress Ratna Pathak Shah has resurfaced and gone viral on social media. In the clip, from a past conversation with News18, Pathak Shah expressed her views on actresses who accept roles that objectify them. She stated, "Everyone who decides to act in a film, every woman, I am sorry to be judgemental but every woman who decides to act in a film like Dabangg where she is made a complete object of lust and more or less, nothing else, those women should also stand up and say 'no, I don't feel doing a part like this'."
Pathak Shah acknowledged that not all women in the industry have the same financial security or freedom to reject such opportunities. Referring to the privileges enjoyed by some actors, she added, "Particularly since I have got a mummy or daddy to bankroll this, at least at this time I won't. Silk Smitha didn't get a chance to say that. Her family depended on her doing what she had to do. My family doesn't depend, so why am I not standing up?"
Panel Discussion on Gender Representation
The clip is from a panel discussion that also featured actors Vidya Balan, Bhumi Pednekar, Swara Bhasker, and Zaira Wasim. The conversation revolved around gender representation in cinema, the pressures faced by women actors, and the influence films can have on societal attitudes. During the same discussion, Bhumi Pednekar emphasized the importance of accountability in storytelling and revealed that she had declined several projects because she was uncomfortable with the way female characters were written. She said, "We need to become more responsible. I completely agree considering the kind of impact we have on people, on the public, we need to know because every time you are smacking a girl's butt, there are going to be 10 boys in a small little village in India doing the same thing and they think it's okay."
Consent Concerns in 'Peddi'
Meanwhile, 'Peddi' has also sparked conversations around its romantic subplot. Some viewers have raised concerns about scenes they believe blur the boundaries of consent. They argue that behavior framed as romance can be interpreted as normalizing persistence in the face of a woman's objections rather than respecting her autonomy and choices.
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