Janhvi Kapoor has seemingly endorsed audience criticism calling her own film Peddi the "most expensive disrespect ever paid to a leading woman in Indian cinema." The Ram Charan-starrer, made on a staggering ₹350 crore budget, now finds itself at the center of a growing controversy over its treatment of female characters.
Janhvi's Silent Endorsement Speaks Volumes
Janhvi, who plays Achiyyamma in the film, has reportedly liked a social media post that sharply criticizes her character's portrayal. The now-viral post reads: "Peddi: the most expensive disrespect ever paid to a leading woman in Indian cinema."
The critique goes on to slam the film for framing "the denial of human identity as a systemic evil, while denying Achiyamma the same humanity." It further highlights the glaring double standard: "Ram gets a sociopolitical crusade while Janhvi gets a midriff close-up."
Janhvi's action—a simple like—has been interpreted by fans and industry watchers alike as a quiet but powerful agreement with the criticism, effectively distancing herself from the very film she helped promote.
Problematic Portrayal Sparks Outrage
Audiences have been vocal about how Peddi objectifies Janhvi's character across several scenes. According to multiple viewer reviews and social media threads, Achiyyamma is reduced to a decorative presence, frequently subjected to leering camera angles and even assaulted by the main lead—played by Ram Charan—within the narrative framework.
Critics argue that while the film pretends to champion social justice, it simultaneously denies its female lead basic agency and dignity. The contrast between Ram Charan's character being given a "sociopolitical crusade" and Janhvi receiving little more than body shots has been called "staggering and shameful."
Makers Face Growing Backlash
The makers of Peddi have remained silent so far, but pressure is mounting. Feminist film critics, women's rights groups, and prominent voices from the Telugu film industry have demanded an apology and a reassessment of how leading actresses are written in big-budget commercial cinema.
Janhvi's endorsement of the criticism is particularly damaging, as it comes from within the film's own camp. Whether the actress will issue a formal statement or the makers will respond remains to be seen.
For now, Peddi—already facing scrutiny over its runtime and thin plot—now carries the uncomfortable label of being a box office hit that disrespected its own leading lady. And Janhvi Kapoor's like button just made sure nobody forgets it.
