Janhvi Kapoor’s film Peddi landed in controversy soon after its release. The actress appeared alongside Ram Charan in the film, but instead of praise, many people on social media criticised the makers for allegedly presenting her more as a “glamour element” than a strong character.
Singer Sumangaly was among those who openly slammed the film’s visuals and accused the makers of “oversexualising” Janhvi Kapoor.
Several users online also pointed out that the camera angles, styling and presentation focused more on glamour than on giving the actress a meaningful presence in the story.
Many even claimed that Janhvi looked like a “prop” in the film rather than an important part of the narrative.
The criticism quickly became a major talking point online because this is not the first time Bollywood or South cinema has faced such accusations.
Over the years, many actresses have either spoken openly about or silently faced being reduced to decorative characters in hero-centric films.
Alia Bhatt In RRR
Alia Bhatt’s role in SS Rajamouli’s RRR also became a major topic of discussion after the film’s release.
Despite being one of Bollywood’s leading actresses, Alia had limited screen time in the film. Many audiences felt that her character mainly existed to support the emotional journey of Ram Charan’s character rather than having a strong story of her own.
Several fans had expected a more impactful role considering Alia’s star power, but her brief appearance disappointed a section of viewers.
Tamannaah Bhatia In Baahubali
Tamannaah Bhatia’s portrayal in Baahubali also sparked debates around female representation.
Her character Avanthika was initially introduced as a fierce warrior, but later, many viewers felt the character lost depth and became secondary to the male lead’s storyline.
Certain scenes in the film were also criticised for focusing heavily on glamour despite Tamannaah’s character being introduced as a powerful rebel fighter.
Vaani Kapoor In Shamshera
Vaani Kapoor faced similar criticism after Shamshera. Many viewers and critics believed her role added very little to the overall plot and mainly existed for songs and romantic scenes. Despite her strong screen presence, audiences felt her character lacked importance within the narrative.
The film once again raised questions about why actresses in big commercial entertainers often receive underwritten roles.
Disha Patani In Radhe
Disha Patani’s role in Salman Khan’s Radhe was also labelled “decorative” by many social media users and reviewers.
Critics argued that the actress had a limited contribution to the story and was mostly presented through glamorous sequences.
The discussion became part of a larger debate about how commercial cinema often prioritises style and visual appeal over meaningful female characters.
Katrina Kaif In Tees Maar Khan
Although Katrina Kaif’s song Sheila Ki Jawani became massively popular, many viewers later pointed out that her character in Tees Maar Khan was remembered more for glamour than for depth or narrative importance.
The film remains one of the many examples often discussed whenever conversations around objectification in Bollywood resurface.
The controversy around Peddi shows that audiences today are far more vocal about representation in films. Social media users no longer ignore situations where actresses are sidelined or unnecessarily sexualised.
At the same time, films like Queen, Kahaani, Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi have proven that audiences appreciate women-led stories with emotionally layered characters.
While it remains to be seen how significant Janhvi Kapoor’s role in Peddi actually is after the film’s release, the current backlash has once again highlighted Bollywood’s long-standing struggle with giving actresses equal narrative importance in mainstream cinema.
