Ram Kapoor’s Old Comments On...

A resurfaced interview of actor Ram Kapoor has gone viral, reigniting conversations round physique picture and sexism within the leisure business. The 51-year-old actor, greatest recognized for his roles in tv dramas, made feedback about his former Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi co-star Smriti Irani throughout a chat with People of Bombay, a clip from which was just lately reshared by Brut India. Whereas Kapoor started by talking about physique picture struggles confronted by actors, it was his remarks about Irani’s weight which have drawn sharp criticism on-line.

“She was my dimension as a girl and doubtless extra profitable than me,” Kapoor stated within the clip, including, “It’s simply that she left earlier.” He went on to discuss Irani’s bodily transformation over the course of Kyunki’s eight-year run, saying, “When she began Kyunki Saas and when she ended, she was large… You see her within the first 12 months of Kyunki to final 12 months, you’ll discover she is as massive as I’m.”

Although he later clarified that Irani gained weight as a part of embodying the character’s ageing arc, Kapoor’s commentary has left many uncomfortable. “She was simply staying true to her character… she allowed herself to change into greater,” he stated. “If she had continued in tv, she would have been a lot greater than me. However she left to affix politics.”

Kapoor additionally famous that Irani “achieved success regardless of all that weight,” a press release which a number of netizens have referred to as out as backhanded and patronising. One consumer wrote, “She legit acted via her pregnancies and appeared lovely at each stage. Why is her dimension even being mentioned?” One other questioned, “She acted whereas carrying a baby. Did you?” Many identified that such discussions perpetuate physique shaming, particularly when directed at ladies.

Others criticised Kapoor for attributing success to bodily dimension, with one remark studying, “Did he simply say success is instantly proportional to an individual’s literal dimension? What did I simply hear?” One other wrote, “This reeks of conceitedness since he’s misplaced weight. He’s implying everybody ought to look a sure method to deserve success.”

Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, created by Ekta Kapoor and starring Irani as the enduring Tulsi, was a defining present of Indian tv. Irani, now Union Minister, just lately marked the present’s 25-year milestone with a heartfelt submit, calling it “an emotion, a reminiscence, a ritual” that introduced households collectively.

Whereas Kapoor might have meant to reward Irani, the tone and framing of his feedback have left many questioning the business’s—and society’s—ongoing obsession with ladies’s appearances, even many years later.