Janhvi Kapoor addresses Peddi objectification on Koffee With Karan

Criticism of the sports drama Peddi

Public backlash hit the sports drama Peddi, which was directed by Buchi Babu Sana and featured Ram Charan.

Critics targeted the film for hypersexualizing Kapoor. They also criticized the project for objectifying her through specific camera angles and the broader narrative.

Kapoor admits to problematic portrayal

Kapoor acknowledged that the scenes were problematic and involved extreme objectification. She admitted the film propagated a sexual-assault narrative.

Kapoor said the experience with the film was "violating". She noted it weighed heavily on her conscience because of its negative impact on society, especially women.

She questioned whether she could have been more vigilant. Kapoor admitted she could have been more proactive and "made a bigger scene" regarding the problematic nature of the work.

Professional challenges in the film industry

Kapoor felt hesitant to speak up initially because many people worked hard on the project. She felt obliged to follow the director's instructions to maintain professional standards.

South Indian film industries rarely use bound scripts or specify camera angles, which makes it difficult to predict how scenes will appear on screen. She tried to reduce problems as she became aware of them during production.

Reflecting on privilege and responsibility

Kapoor said she should have used her privilege as an actor to speak up more forcefully against the problematic portrayal. She acknowledged her privileged background and stated, "I should've taken advantage of that".

She replied that she did not wish to appear as a victim when questioned about feeling disappointed with the filmmaker. She reiterated that the experience was "violating".

Director apology and film edits

Director Buchi Babu Sana issued a public apology for the scenes, stating the team did not intend to disrespect or objectify female characters. The controversial scenes were removed or edited from the theatrical cut of the film.

A revised version of the movie without those scenes was released. Kapoor said the controversy should prompt directors and actors to be more mindful of preventing similar errors in the future.