Swara Bhaskar has strongly reacted to trolls who targeted her over post-pregnancy weight gain, calling out the “bizarre” criticism she has faced since embracing motherhood.The actress recently shared a throwback picture from 2018, which drew body-shaming comments online. In response, Swara posted a collage featuring the old image alongside a recent photo of her holding her daughter Raabiya, choosing to address the trolling head-on.Calling out the scrutiny around her body, she wrote, “This is a hill I will repeatedly die on! The kind of rage and anger I’ve encountered in the last few years because my body has changed after childbirth and because I refuse to lose the weight on the timeline of strangers on the internet… is bizarre!”
‘I chose not to bounce back’
Taking a firm stand against unrealistic expectations, Swara emphasised that physical changes after childbirth are natural and not something to be apologised for.“After I had a baby (now 2.5 years ago) I chose NOT TO BOUNCE BACK. Because once you have a baby — there’s no back — you are a parent for the rest of your life… Life changes fundamentally and that’s okay,” she shared.She added that while many women may miss their pre-pregnancy selves, forcing the body to fit into past versions can be harmful. “Of course we miss our old life, our young and free version, our thinner and tighter bodies but to mindlessly keep idealising our younger thinner selves- to force our bodies to bounce back or here and there and fit into versions of your past that are gone, is a kind of cruelty. Our bodies have conceived, carried, nurtured, delivered and nourished a whole other human being. Of course they will change and that’s okay!!!!! This constant pressure to look desirable for the camera or internet or strangers, this incessant shaming of women for carrying postpartum weight, the judgement of women for not losing or not wanting to lose weight it is both unintelligent and nasty,” she said.
‘It’s nobody’s business’
Swara also addressed the constant pressure on women to look a certain way, especially after childbirth, and the tendency to equate appearance with worth.“It’s nobody’s business. Women should live their lives the way they want. And no, this is not an argument against fitness. Or health. This is an argument to honour our bodies and stop forcing ourselves to remain in boxes we’ve outgrown. Life is an onward forward going journey. It’s okay to give our bodies that grace too,” she clarified, underlining that her stance is about choice, not neglect. The actress concluded by asserting that her professional abilities have nothing to do with her physical appearance, making it clear that conventional beauty standards do not define her craft.“P.S. and to the “but you are an actor” gang- weight and acting ability have zero correlation.. Don’t fall into the good looks are essential for actors trap. They are not. Craft and ability are important to be a good actor. Most of the best actors this country has produced were never conventionally good looking! I said what i said.#LeaveMammasAlone”
