Long before ‘Peddi’ ignited a debate about how women are portrayed on screen, Janhvi Kapoor by then he had recorded his position. In an April interview on Raj Shamani’s podcast, the actor spoke with stunning clarity about conformity, over-sexualization and his evolving confidence in setting boundaries on film sets. These remarks, largely expressed at the time, have now gone viral with urgency as the makers of ‘Peddi’ are mounting criticism over the presentation of their character Achiyyamma and what many viewers call the film’s objectifying gaze.
What did Janhvi Kapoor say about consent and se*ualization on screen?
In the April interview, Janhvi made a careful distinction between sensuality that she has actively consented to and sexualization that occurs without her knowledge or approval, making it clear that only one of them is acceptable.“I think, at any stage, it’s important to ask yourself, what did I accept? For example, I did a song called ‘Bheegi Saree’ (in ‘Param Sundari’) where I’m in a wet saree, and I’m dancing quite sensually. The idea for that was, I wouldn’t say titillating, but, explained the sensual Kapo son.Kapoor drew a distinction saying, “I think if someone looked at that and said, I’m not attracted to this chick, I might feel offended. But that’s very different from sexualizing someone, especially without their consent. That, in any form, I’m not okay with. And that bothers me.”
Janhvi Kapoor on asserting boundaries with directors and cinematographers on set
Beyond the broader question of consent, Janhvi also spoke about the more concrete reality of an actress trying to maintain agency over the way she is filmed, and the professional risk involved in speaking up.The actress revealed that she’s been actively working on her confidence to object when a cinematographer puts the camera at an angle that makes her uncomfortable, without coming across as difficult or unprofessional in an industry that doesn’t always take female talent seriously.While she admits to often prioritizing politeness and strategic silence, carefully choosing which battles to fight, Kapoor said she’s willing to air her discomfort and make sure she’s truly heard, while remaining professional in how she does it.
Janhvi Kapoor on industry bias and casting
In the same interview, Janhvi Kapoor spoke candidly about the wider structural pressures that influence what roles actors are offered in the first place and how filmmakers’ perceived audience appetite directly affects casting decisions. He revealed that the industry’s expectation is that audiences first encounter a heroine in a glamorous or physically revealing avatar within a filmmaker’s work, and that what audiences respond to an actress often determines the type of project she is subsequently considered for.
More about ‘Peddi’ and his reaction
‘Peddi’ is the latest release of Janhvi Kapoor, in which she stars Ram Charan as a character named Achiyyamma. The film has generated considerable controversy, with critics and audiences arguing that the presentation of her character is objectifying and that the film’s visual treatment of Achiyamma prioritizes the male gaze over any meaningful trait. The backlash has sparked a broader conversation about representation, consent, and the responsibilities filmmakers have for female actors in their productions, and the conversation sparked by Kapoor’s conversation has now gained momentum.Released on June 4, ‘Peddi’ is a sports action drama directed by Buchi Babu Sana starring Ram Charan starring Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu Sharma, Boman Irani and Ravi Kishan in lead roles. Music is composed by A. R Rahman.
More about Janhvi Kapoor
Janhvi Kapoor made her acting debut in Karan Johar’s ‘Dhadak’ in 2018 and has steadily expanded her range in a variety of roles, from biopic ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’ and horror comedy ‘Roohi’ to survival thriller ‘Mili’, spy drama ‘Ulajh’ and drama ‘Mr sport’. & Mrs. Mahi.’She recently garnered some of the most critical notices of her career for her work in National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’, in which she played a low-caste woman navigating social discrimination, a role she grew into as a performer.
