Actor Renuka Shahane has spoken up in defense of Aishwarya Rai, who has often been a target of online trolling for her red carpet looks and post-pregnancy weight gain. In a recent interview, Renuka expressed disappointment over the constant scrutiny Aishwarya faces and said that people should celebrate her consistent success rather than judge her physical appearance.
Talking to Zoom, Renuka said that Aishwarya has been representing India internationally for years and continues to be a global brand ambassador. “Should we not celebrate her achievements over the years? She has been representing us year after year, and all people can think about is what she wore or how she looked. Please don’t do that. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just keep quiet,” she remarked firmly.
Renuka also reflected on how the pressure on female actors has grown worse in the age of social media. “With the advent of social media, it’s become another world altogether. The amount of judgement and pressure actors live under, especially women, is huge. After becoming a mother, there’s an expectation that she must look the same as before—it’s unfair,” she said.
Aishwarya, who welcomed her daughter Aaradhya with husband Abhishek Bachchan in 2011, faced severe body-shaming after childbirth. Back then, Abhishek had also defended her, calling such comments “insensitive” and reminding people that public figures deserve respect and empathy, especially when they are mothers.