- Saturday, May 17, 2025
In a candid chat with Lilly Singh, Bollywood actor Ananya Panday hits back at body shaming and beauty standards, calling out the scrutiny women face for their natural bodies and Hollywood-fuelled perfection myths.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Bollywood actor Ananya Panday has had enough of the constant commentary on her body. In a heartfelt conversation with Canadian content creator Lilly Singh, the young star opened up about the brutal body shaming she’s endured over the years and how social media relentlessly speculates about her appearance — particularly accusing her of getting cosmetic surgery without knowing the truth.
The 25-year-old actress recalled how the criticism started when she was just 18 or 19 and had only begun her film career. “I was really skinny,” Ananya shared, adding, “Everyone used to kind of make fun of that. They were like, ‘Oh, you have chicken legs. You look like a matchstick. You are like a flat-screen TV. You don’t have tits. You don’t have an ass.’”
Fast forward to the present, her naturally changing physique is being scrutinized again. “Now that I’m growing up and naturally, my body is filling out, they’re like, ‘Oh, there’s no way. She’s got her butt done. She’s got this done.’ So, you can never win,” she stated with a tone of resignation that resonated with many.
The actor pointed out that such judgments are largely gendered. “It’s constantly for anything you do. No matter what shape or size you are, people will have something to say and criticise — especially women. I don’t feel like they do that to men at all. The hate that comes towards women is a lot more,” she said.
Ananya’s honesty struck a chord, especially because she didn’t just shift blame to her critics. She admitted that the film and beauty industries, including celebrities like herself, have contributed to setting these unrealistic beauty standards. “I also feel like it’s our fault because we have set unrealistic beauty standards in films. As an actress, I’ve put that message out there in films and songs,” she reflected.
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However, she emphasized that she’s trying to change that narrative. Today, Ananya is focusing on embracing her natural self and showing authenticity in her personal life, even if it contrasts with the glammed-up personas seen on screen.
At a time when many young women feel pressured to fit into filtered and photoshopped ideals, Ananya Panday’s unapologetic response is a reminder of the need for empathy — and the urgency to dismantle the obsession with women’s bodies in public discourse.
