Janhvi Kapoor On Peddi Controversy: 'I Should Have Taken Advantage Of My Privilege'
JANHVI KAPOOR ON PEDDI CONTROVERSY: 'I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MY PRIVILEGE' — AND THE SHAME THAT COMES WITH IT. The day Ram Charan’s Peddi hit screens, the film wasn’t just a box office event, it became a flashpoint. Not for its story, not for its music, but for how it framed its female lead.
And now, Janhvi Kapoor has spoken. For the first time, she addressed the backlash on Koffee With Karan Season 9, calling her role in the film a “violating experience” and admitting she carries shame. She didn’t flinch. No deflection.
No distancing. “The reason I was so apprehensive to talk about it,” she said, “was that many people worked hard on that film.” But she also made clear: she takes responsibility for her part. “Whatever that fiasco was… it weighs heavily on my conscience.” The controversy? The way the film objectified its female character, so much so that critics questioned whether it crossed into narrative sexual assault.
Janhvi didn’t deny it. “Was it problematic? Was it extreme objectification? Did it even propagate sexual assault narratively?
Yes.” She didn’t stop there. She acknowledged the pressure of being a performer in a system where scripts aren’t bound, camera angles aren’t fixed, and directors hold absolute sway. “You know how it’s like, ‘Yes, whatever the director says, you have to be professional.’” That’s when the real reckoning came.
“I do come from a place of privilege. I should have taken advantage of that.” A quiet line. A heavy one. Not an excuse.
A confession. She admitted she could’ve done more, spoken louder, pushed harder, made a bigger scene. “A hundred per cent, yes.” The moment landed not because of drama, but because of restraint. No victimhood.
No blame-shifting. Just a woman naming her complicity, her silence, and the cost of both. And yet, she still doesn’t want to be seen as a victim. “I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to be the victim here.” But the truth is, she isn’t. She’s someone who’s finally speaking up.
What happens next? That’s the question. Will this moment change how actors negotiate power on set? Will studios rethink script transparency?
Or will it fade into another industry conversation that never leads to action? One thing’s certain: Janhvi Kapoor won’t be silent again. Not if she can help it.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.