Controversy Surrounds Ram Charan's 'Peddi' Over Janhvi Kapoor's Portrayal

Controversy Erupts Over 'Peddi'

Ram Charan's film Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, has been making headlines for negative reasons since its debut on June 4. This sports drama, which was expected to be an uplifting family film, has sparked controversy due to its depiction of Janhvi Kapoor as Achiyamma and the intimate scenes involving her and Ram Charan. Following significant backlash regarding the "hypersexualization" of her character, an older video of Janhvi discussing objectification in the film industry has resurfaced online. Just weeks prior to Peddi's release, she openly addressed her discomfort with being sexualized without her consent.

Janhvi Kapoor's Thoughts on Objectification

What Did Janhvi Kapoor Say About Being 'Objectified?'

During an appearance on Raj Shamani's podcast, Janhvi expressed her discontent with filmmakers who sexualize her without her approval. She remarked, "If a DOP places a camera in a way that I’m uncomfortable with, I should be able to say, nahi, ye nahi chalega mujhe nahi chahiye (no, I don’t want this) without being seen as unprofessional. Dheere, dheere haan. (Yes, slowly). At times, I’ve been polite, choosing my battles wisely. But now, I’m more assertive, thinking mera jugaad nikaal dungi (I’ll find a solution). It’s crucial for me to communicate my boundaries while remaining courteous."

Janhvi further noted that filmmakers share the responsibility for this issue, often holding rigid views on how a heroine should appear and behave. She highlighted that many in the industry tend to evaluate a female artist's worth based on her physical appearance. Recalling past comments, she mentioned that some filmmakers would insist that if an actress were to wear a bikini, it would be in their film and on the big screen.

Director Buchi Babu Sana Responds to Backlash

Peddi Director Finally REACTS To Criticism

While Janhvi has yet to publicly respond, director Buchi Babu Sana has addressed the backlash, admitting he did not foresee the negative reception of certain scenes. He acknowledged that those moments did not unfold as he had intended. The director clarified that the goal behind Janhvi’s storyline was to depict a lighthearted romance between her character Achiyyamma and Ram Charan’s character in Peddi. He expressed regret that the execution did not meet expectations and vowed to exercise greater caution in future projects.