Actor Janhvi Kapoor has spoken about the controversy surrounding the portrayal of her character in the Telugu film Peddi, admitting that she should have been more assertive in raising objections to scenes that she now considers deeply problematic.
Appearing on Koffee with Karan alongside actor Varun Dhawan, Kapoor said she regretted not doing more to challenge the sexualisation of her character, Achiyamma, in the Buchi Babu Sana directorial.
The film, which starred Ram Charan opposite Kapoor and was released in June, faced criticism over its depiction of women, particularly the repeated use of close-up shots and suggestive camera angles involving Kapoor's character.
The controversy prompted director Sana to issue an apology and announce changes to the film.
Actor acknowledges responsibility
Reflecting on the criticism, Kapoor said she was conscious of the effort that had gone into making the film but could not ignore the wider implications of its portrayal of women.
"I feel many people worked really hard on that film and I really didn't know if there was anything to say. It weighs heavily on my conscience the sort of negative impact a narrative like that can have on our society. Specific to my gender. That shame I will always carry with me," she said.
The 29-year-old actor acknowledged that the film's treatment of her character went beyond conventional objectification and raised serious concerns about the narratives being presented to audiences.
"Could I have done more? Could I have been more vigilant? 100% yes. Was it problematic, was it extreme objectification? Did it even propagate sexual assault narratively? Yes. But the only thing I can do is ensure that it doesn't happen again," Kapoor said.
She maintained that the experience had made her more conscious of the responsibility actors carry when participating in projects that could reinforce harmful representations of women.
‘Should have been more vigilant’
Kapoor said she had attempted to address her discomfort during filming but felt she had not challenged the creative decisions strongly enough.
She explained that certain aspects of the character's presentation became apparent to her only as production progressed.
"I went through the beats of really beating up myself that I should have been more vigilant. I don't like saying this because it sounds like I am shifting blame, but it's like you listen to the director and what he says. I was navigating how to make things less problematic as and when information was becoming available to me," she said.
The actor indicated that her tendency to follow the director's instructions had influenced how she responded to scenes that made her uncomfortable.
Looking back, she said she should have questioned those decisions more forcefully rather than attempting to make adjustments as the shooting continued.
Kapoor reflects on industry privilege
The actor also acknowledged that her position in the film industry gave her the ability to raise objections, something she felt she had failed to use effectively.
Kapoor, the daughter of late actor Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, said she should have drawn on that privilege to demand greater clarity about her character's portrayal.
"In the south, very rarely there is a bound script. Very rarely do you see the camera angles. I do come from a place of privilege. I should have taken advantage of that because I am going to get the s\*\*\* for being privileged anyway. So, I might as well have leveraged it," she said.
Her remarks also highlighted concerns about actors being unaware of how certain scenes will ultimately be framed or presented on screen.
Hopes controversy brings change
Describing the experience as personally distressing, Kapoor said she hoped the criticism would encourage filmmakers to reconsider how female characters are depicted.
"It was a violating experience in a way. The good thing that came out of it is that maybe next time a director will rethink twice before presenting a lead actress this way," she said.
Set in rural Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s, Peddi follows a young man from a marginalised caste community who turns to wrestling in his pursuit of dignity and recognition for his people.
The film's release generated debate over the representation of Kapoor's character, with viewers questioning the use of camera angles and sequences they considered unnecessarily sexualised.
Kapoor said the experience had reinforced her determination to be more vigilant about the projects she undertakes and the manner in which her characters are presented.