As the debate over the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor‘s character in ‘Peddi’ continues to rage on, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has weighed in, urging actresses to speak up when they feel uncomfortable on set. While she was at it, she also reminded audiences that objectification is often unintentional rather than deliberate.
Kangana Ranaut’s take on objectification in cinema
Speaking to news agency PTI while promoting her upcoming film ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’, Kangana addressed the broader issue of how women are portrayed on screen. She argued that filmmaking is a collaborative process and that female actors have both the opportunity and the responsibility to flag scenes that may not sit right.She said, “You can bring light to the scene and say, ‘It is sounding like this’. They may not want to objectify because nobody wants to make a film where they are like, ‘Let’s objectify’. What I have seen is that they don’t think that way.”Ranaut also elaborated on why she believes many problematic scenes stem from a lack of female perspective in the writing room rather than malicious intent. She added, “So as a woman, you can share your perspective and say, ‘Yes, this is how it feels like or it is not looking nice’. Mostly they agree with you and say, ‘No, we actually didn’t think it like that. As a set of men when we were writing it in a closed room, we didn’t think it would be so bad’. These things happen. If you are working on a film, if you have accepted it, then it’s like a collaboration.”
‘Peddi’ controversy in focus
Kangana Ranaut’s comments come amid ongoing criticism surrounding ‘Peddi’, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. Much of the backlash has been directed at Janhvi’s character Achiyyamma’s introductory scene, in which the camera lingers on her body before her face is shown, a choice many viewers have argued prioritises visual appeal over character establishment.Further scrutiny has fallen on several romantic sequences between the two leads, with some viewers questioning whether the scenes adequately depict consent and agency.
Buchi Babu Sana responds, scenes being removed
Director Buchi Babu Sana has acknowledged the criticism and confirmed that certain scenes will be removed from the current theatrical print of Peddi, which released on June 4, 2026. He has also issued a public apology, stating it was never his intention to objectify or disrespect any female character.
