Why Equating Postpartum Body To Lesser Job Prospects Is Unfair To New Mums

Actor Swara Bhasker and politician Fahad Ahmed welcomed a baby girl named Raabiyaa into their family on January 23, 2023. She used Instagram Stories on Tuesday, June 4 to criticise a body-shaming article published in a 'leading' newspaper, which implied that her size was the reason she was not being cast in movies.

Swara Bhaskar Calls Out News Outlet For Fat-Shaming Comment

Swara Bhasker tweeted a screen grab of the article's tweet, saying, "For those who cannot read the Devanagari script, this is a leading Hindi newspaper handle that thinks it is newsworthy that a recent mom, who birthed a child a few months ago, put on weight! Can someone please explain the physiology of childbirth to the geniuses…”

The original article said, "Badhte wajan ke karan nahi mil raha kaam (Swara is not getting work because of her weight gain!)"

Her most recent movie, Sheer Qorma, came out in August 2023. Before that, she starred in the movie Jahaan Chaar Yaar, which came out in 2022.

Kajal Aggarwal Opens Up About Post-Childbirth Insecurities

Moreover, actor Kajal Aggarwal, preparing for her upcoming release Satyabhama, recently stressed the need for more diverse roles for married female actors in Southern cinema. In an interview with Galatta Plus, Kajal discussed the limited scope of film genres and roles available to women in the South compared to Bollywood, where stars like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt frequently land significant roles in romantic and action films.

Aggarwal expressed her frustration with this disparity but emphasised that she has remained true to her principles throughout her career. Despite getting married, having a child, and taking a short break from acting, she refused to accept any role that came her way. "I have stuck to my beliefs. As actors, we go through ups and downs, but even during my low period, when I was anxious, I didn’t just do anything that came my way," said the actor, acknowledging that this period was particularly stressful.

Opening up about her experiences with anxiety after giving birth and during her maternity leave, Aggarwal shared, "I was worried, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do? Is it ever going to be the same for me again? How am I going to manage?’ I wondered if I would ever get those lucrative offers again." She candidly spoke about the pressures and uncertainties she faced during this time.

Aggarwal credited her successful return to the film industry to her resilience and her careful choice of projects. She emphasised that her perseverance allowed her to come back with substantial roles. "For example, Kanappa. I wanted to be a part of this film because I love mythology," she said, underscoring her interest in meaningful and diverse roles.

Moreover, during a film promotion, Kareena Kapoor Khan addressed the common concerns about marriage and childbirth affecting an actress's career. When asked if she felt insecure about her work after getting married and having a child, she responded, "No. But there was definitely pressure not to get married because it's feared that actresses' careers end after marriage. And even more so after having a baby. People told me that my career was practically over. ''

She added, ''But for me, that didn't matter. I've done a lot of work since then. I also make sure to balance my time with family. I’m very particular about spending time with them and being present. It's a part of me that I can't ignore and something I truly want. Work is important, but my family has always been my strong foundation."

Meanwhile, in the upcoming film Satyabhama, set to release on June 7, Kajal Aggarwal takes on the role of a police officer, marking a significant milestone in her career. She also stars in Indian 2 alongside Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, and Rakul Preet Singh, which is scheduled for release on July 12. Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan will soon be seen in Singham 3 and The Buckingham Murders.