Janhvi Kapoor’s hypersexualization in Peddi sparks outrage, internet is shocked
Peddi has been criticized for the way Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiamma was written and filmed. This reaction has reignited the debate over consent, sexualization and agency in mainstream cinema.
since pedi Released in theaters on June 4, the sports drama is at the center of online debate not only for its scale, but also for Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal of the character Achiamma. Viewers on social media have accused the film of “oversexualizing” and “objectifying” the female lead, while also criticizing director Buchi Babu Sana and lead actor Ram Charan for how the character has been written and presented on screen.
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The response focused on scenes that users say make Achiamma an object of desire and give her little role in the story. In some posts, Janhvi Kapoor has also been blamed for agreeing to this role. As the criticism mounted, an old clip of her April interview on Raj Shamani’s podcast began recirculating, in which she talked about ‘hypersexuality’ and the importance of consent.
Many users said that the problem lay in the way the character was visualized on screen. One user wrote that “the heroine deserved a role” but instead she was given “a series of obscene, derogatory, objectionable scenes strung together and called a role”. Another said, “It’s time they stopped sexualizing heroines in films. Literally there’s a scene where the hero describes her face but they show her waist and chest.”
A third post pointed to a scene in which Ram Charan’s character praises Janhvi Kapoor’s eyes and lips, but the camera cuts to her chest and waist and asks, “To the editor, are you really so ignorant that you don’t know what eyes and lips are?”
Some criticism was directed at Janhvi Kapoor herself. One
Another user, in a post containing personal comments about her appearance, wrote in Hindi that the issue is not South cinema or Bollywood, but Janhvi’s lack of acting skills and diversity, and asked how “1000 crore box office nonsense” would happen if films showed better content.
Another post said, “Totally agree. High time actresses have put their foot down. #JanhviKapoor needs to learn from this experience.” One reply said, “It’s a two-way street. Producers need to stop writing such lazy roles, and actresses like Janhvi need to take notice. She deserves better, but she needs to demand better first.”
Specific scenes from the film were also highlighted. A social media user called the scene “disgusting” and wrote, “Amidst the election campaign, a goon removes Janhvi Kapoor’s clothes to embarrass her in public. #Dibyendu starts laughing, enjoying. #Ramcharan has sex with her all the time and is called the village hero. He beats those goons to death. Bullshit level sexual objectification elements, disaster depiction heroism (sic).”
Another
A social media user wrote that he felt pity for Jhanvi.
The film also stars Boman Irani, Divyendu and Jagapathi Babu.
Amid the backlash, an old clip of Janhvi Kapoor’s interview on Raj Shamani’s podcast went viral again. When asked whether she was affected when filmmakers sexually exploited her excessively, she said it depended on what she had consented to. “I think at any and every stage, it’s important to ask yourself, what did I consent to? So, for example, I did a song called wet saree (In most beautiful) where I am in a wet saree, and I am dancing in a very sensual way,” she said.
She continued, “The idea for it was, I wouldn’t say to be provocative, but it was an erotic song. I think if someone looked at it and said, I’m not attracted to this girl, I would probably feel bad. But that’s very different from sexually exploiting someone, especially without their consent. That, in any and every form, I don’t agree with. And it bothers me.”
with pedi Continuing her theatrical run, online debate has focused on Achiamma’s portrayal, the writing of her role, and the broader question of where the filmmakers draw the line between sexuality and sensuality.