When was the last time you saw a plus-sized actor playing the lead role in a Bollywood movie—without their character being fat-shamed or their body type being ridiculed? Our guess is never. As much as we love Bollywood, it cannot be denied that mainstream Indian cinema lacks representation. In fact, the audience also expects the actors to look a certain way, and those who don’t fit the standards, are often criticised. Arjun Kapoor, who has been body-shamed for his physique in the past, recently opened up about his personal experiences.
While speaking to a leading daily, Arjun said, “While I have been criticised a lot for my physique, I have taken it on the chin because people expect actors to be seen in a certain body type. I understand that. They haven’t understood the struggle that I have gone through and it’s alright. I have to only prove it to myself and to people who believe in me.”
Arjun underwent a major physical transformation before foraying into Bollywood. The actor’s fitness journey hasn’t been an easy one as he had struggled with health issues. In fact, it was his health condition that made it difficult for him to achieve quick results, he revealed.
The actor is no stranger to social media trolling and body shaming, however, staying positive amid all the negativity on social media gets difficult. “The pressure to be relevant in the industry is immense and the negativity does get to you. When my films weren’t working to the level that I expected them to, the negativity just mounted. The triggers that had caused my health issue in the first place came back, but I tried hard to keep going and make every day count. When you are constantly engulfed in work, you don’t realise the slide that you could be going through. You could be crumbling from inside while putting on a brave face. It happened to me; it happens to a lot of people,” said Arjun.
The Two States actor hasn’t let the hardships come in the way of what he wants to achieve. His focus is on getting fitter and better every day. He credits the success of his film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, and his subsequent state of mind, for helping him achieve a better physique.
“Unfortunately, shaming has become a part of our lives, and I can only hope that we get better as a society,” said Arjun. We couldn’t agree more!
Featured Image: Arjun Kapoor on Instagram
