Ram Kapoor finds himself under the fire again as a resurfaced interview of his has stirred controversy online. The clip shows Kapoor speaking about body image in the TV industry. While his comments began positively, things took a turn when he used his former co-star, Smriti Irani, as an example.
Ram Kapoor shares his views on body-positivity
Ram Kapoor in a clip from Humans of Bombay that was recently reshared by Brut India speaks about how hard it is for an overweight actor to succeed. He said success today often depends upon appearance. While making a point, he brought up Smriti Irani and said:
“She was my size as a woman and probably more successful than I. It is just that she left earlier.”
Ram Kapoor went on to talk about Smriti Irani and her physical appearance
Ram went on to describe Smriti Irani’s transformation during Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Kapoor said she gained weight as the show progressed because of the leaps in the storyline. Ram added they had openly spoken about this before. According to him, Smriti gained weight to stay true to her character, which aged and became a grandmother over the years. He added that if she had stayed in television, she could have become more successful than he is.
Ram Kapoor talked about challenges that an overweight actor faces
Ram in the same clip mentioned the challenges that overweight male actors face today but his mention of Smiriti subjected him to backlash. It was seen by many as reducing Irani’s accomplishments to her body size. Many argued that such comparisons reinforce harmful stereotypes about weight and success, especially for women in the industry. He had said:
“Now, if a guy my size wants to make it big, it will be difficult. But if we talk about the opposite gender, Smriti did achieve success despite all that weight.”
Netizens were not okay with Ram Kapoor’s comment
Although Ram may have intended to praise Smriti, many viewers saw his comments as backhanded and body-shaming. Social media users criticised him, saying it was unfair to talk about a woman’s body this way, especially someone who acted through her pregnancies and adapted to her character’s journey.
One user asked if Ram ever worked during pregnancy, the way Irani did. Others said she looked beautiful throughout her time on the show. Many felt his focus on her size was unnecessary. “Why compare weight to success?” a comment read. “This feels arrogant and rude.”
Some users accused Ram of showing arrogance after his physical transformation. One person said, “What did I just hear? Did he say success is linked to someone’s literal size?”
Ram Kapoor has been on the wrong side of the media for a while now
Adding to the backlash, Ram Kapoor has been under intense online scrutiny lately. He was removed from all promotional activity for his new show, Mistry. The decision reportedly came after the allegations that he made sexually inappropriate remarks during a media interaction.
Smriti Irani remains unbothered
Smriti, who played ‘Tulsi’, has yet to comment on the entire situation. Meanwhile, she continues her successful political career, now far from the TV world that once made her a household name.
What do you think about the whole controversy? Was Ram Kapoor’s remark body shaming or appreciative?
Also Read: ‘Mistry’ Review: Ram Kapoor Shines In This OCD-Fueled Crime Comedy You Didn’t Know You Needed