Peddi hypersexualisation controversy: Fans dig out Janhvi Kapoor’s titillating scenes in Param Sundari and Devara; celebs come out in support

Objectification of female actors and the emphasis on their physical appearance through revealing outfits, midriff shots, and sensual portrayals is hardly new to either Bollywood or South Indian cinema. Actresses such as Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Kriti Sanon and others have featured in bold scenes, including on-screen kisses and romantic sequences, as part of mainstream commercial films.

However, Janhvi Kapoor’s recently released film Peddi has sparked a different kind of debate, with critics and netizens arguing that her character serves little purpose beyond being visually appealing and is heavily objectified. Many social media users have pointed out that Janhvi has performed similarly glamorous or bold scenes in films such as Param Sundari, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and other projects, often involving flirtatious expressions, lip-biting gestures, and sensual screen presence. This has led some viewers to question why Peddi’s portrayal has become the focal point of criticism.

Critics argue that her role lacks depth, agency, and meaningful contribution to the story, reducing her character to a visual element rather than a fully developed individual.

As criticism surrounding Peddi continues to grow, several actors from the film fraternity like Nitya Menon, Dimple Hayathi, among others, have stepped forward in support of Janhvi Kapoor, urging audiences to focus their criticism on the system and the makers’ creative decisions behind the film rather than the actress herself.

Sharing her thoughts on X on Sunday (June 7), Dimple Hayathi defended actresses who often have limited control over the roles they are offered.

She wrote, “I’m so glad today on this day we all are speaking about how actresses roles are being written and the instinctive response to blame actress after doing what she was offered, don’t blame the actress blame the system and makers who really think that’s what sells .. and we actors get to work within the opportunities what we get trying to make it big and hoping we would be working in bigger films and reach wider audiences. If the characters are underwritten the responsibility lies more with writing and filmmaking choices than woman playing the role.”

The actress further spoke about how performers are frequently judged based on the characters they portray, often without being given opportunities to showcase their full range.

“Unfortunately we are stereotyped by image which and how things unfold with characters that we play without getting the opportunity to showcase our full potential to perform, whereas when the hero centered stories takeover the liberty to project. What we see is what we believe unfortunately. No body knows what gets into filmmaking it’s not under one persons choice but we all can unanimously make a point that we deserve better experiences and better filmmaking.”

Nithya Menen on objectification of women in films

In an interview with Variety India, actress Nithya Menen said that the objectification of women in films is “not limited to South cinema” but is a “trend” across the entertainment industry. She further stated that the root of the issue lies in the “hyper-commercialisation” of cinema.

She added, “Whatever works commercially and titillates the audience is often indulged in for mass success. Is it too much? Absolutely. I wonder if actors should actually have better boundaries and the person who’s performing the scene should be able to put their foot down and say they are not okay with being objectified.”

The actor further noted that performers are not necessarily powerless in such situations and said, “If you have been doing this kind of commercial cinema and suddenly you are not okay with it, you may not be taken seriously. I also don’t believe that you end up helpless in a situation. You can assert yourself. It depends on what that person’s priority is. Are there films that I don’t get to do or genres that I don’t get to do because I don’t do certain kinds of stuff? Yes. But I am okay with it because I choose that over fame. If you only want to be a top star and are willing to do anything to get there, then that is a call you have taken.”

Following the film’s release, several viewers raised concerns over the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyyamma. Critics and fans argued that her introduction emphasises her physical appearance rather than her personality or role in the story. Another sequence that sparked debate features Peddi (Ram Charan) pursuing a romantic relationship with Achiyyamma despite her apparent disinterest, culminating in a kiss without her consent.

Meanwhile, fan clubs of Janhvi shared screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by the actress. The messages appeared to indicate that she had repeatedly expressed concerns about the way certain scenes involving her character were being shot.

Responding to the backlash surrounding Peddi, director Buchi Babu Sana said that he has always held deep respect for women, both in real life and in his storytelling, and stressed that there was never any intention to objectify or demean any female character. He acknowledged the concerns raised by a section of the audience regarding certain portions of the film and said the team respects those sentiments.