Mumbai: Actress Janhvi Kapoor has said she is glad that the portrayal of her character in the upcoming sports drama ‘Peddi’ became a major talking point, expressing hope that the controversy would encourage greater sensitivity towards actresses who raise concerns about how their characters are depicted on screen.
Speaking during her recent appearance on ‘Koffee With Karan’ alongside Varun Dhawan, Janhvi addressed the criticism surrounding the alleged objectification of her character in the film. Rather than dismissing the concerns, she reflected on the potential wider impact of the debate on the film industry.
“I’m glad it became such a big deal, my portrayal in ‘Peddi’, so maybe next time an actress says she’s uncomfortable, they won’t look at her like an alien,” she said.
The actress admitted that she had initially been hesitant to speak publicly about the controversy, given the hard work that had gone into making the film. However, she said she felt a responsibility to acknowledge the concerns raised about the portrayal and its possible social implications.
Janhvi said she was troubled by the potential negative impact of such portrayals on society, particularly in relation to women. She also questioned whether she could have been more vigilant and raised her objections more firmly during the filming process.
“Could have I done more? Could I have been more vigilant? Could I have made a bigger scene? A hundred percent, yes. Was it problematic? Was it extreme objectification? Did it even propagate sexual assault narratively? Yes,” she said.
The ‘Dhadak’ actress added that she had repeatedly reflected on whether she should have challenged the portrayal more strongly. She acknowledged the difficulty of navigating such concerns while working within a film production, where actors are also expected to follow the director’s instructions and maintain professionalism.
Janhvi explained that she had tried to address the issues as best she could while information became available to her, adding that she did not want her comments to be interpreted as an attempt to shift responsibility onto others.
Her remarks have brought renewed attention to questions about the representation of women in cinema and the challenges actresses may face when expressing discomfort over creative decisions. She hopes the discussion surrounding ‘Peddi’ will make filmmakers more receptive to such concerns in future projects.
-IANS