Vidya Balan, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed actresses, has never shied away from speaking her mind. In a recent interview with Humans of Bombay, Balan revealed that her journey to success was marred by body shaming from someone she was close to, though she did not name the individual.
Reflecting on the painful experience, Vidya Balan shared, “It’s always the closest people who hurt you the most. And all I’ll say is that I’m not referring to family here. It’s irrelevant who the person is, but suffice to say that when someone matters a lot to you, and they are super-critical, when they body shame you, when they are just not supportive—it’s not nice. And the only thing for you to do at that point is to walk away.”
The actress’s candid admission sparked speculation among fans, with some suggesting that the individual in question could be actor Shahid Kapoor, given past rumors about his controlling nature in relationships. However, Balan has not confirmed any names, and the focus remains on the broader issue of body shaming.
Vidya Balan’s rise to fame, particularly after the success of Paa in 2009, solidified her position in the industry. However, her journey was not without its challenges. In 2007, the conversation around her shifted from her acting talent to her fashion choices, both on and off-screen. In a notable incident from 2008, Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan presented her with a “Naariyal” award for her attire in Heyy Babyy (2007). Recalling the moment on the podcast Unfiltered with Samdish, Balan said, “When they told me they’re going to give me the Na-Real award, I said, ‘Why me? My clothes are not just my choice, right?’”
Addressing the ongoing debate on nepotism in the film industry, Balan expressed her views firmly. “Nepotism or no nepotism, I am here. Kisi ki baap ki industry nahi hai, nahi toh har baap ka beta, har baap ki beti successful hote (The film industry does not belong to anyone’s father, else every star kid would be successful),” she told Indian Express. Despite acknowledging that having influential connections might have offered her some protection during tough times, she emphasized that no one has been able to deny her the opportunities she deserved.
