In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Telugu film industry, actor Janhvi Kapoor has appeared to agree with a scathing Instagram post that labelled her own film ‘Peddi’ as “the most expensive disrespect ever paid to a leading woman in Indian cinema.”
Screenshots circulating widely on social media show that Kapoor ‘liked’ the post by the account Recommendation Community, which criticised the Rs 350 crore sports drama for allegedly reducing its female lead to objectification while giving Ram Charan’s character a significant sociopolitical arc. While the ‘like’ is no longer visible on the page, multiple users captured the moment, and the response has since intensified the backlash against director Buchi Babu Sana and the film’s makers.
‘Denied the same humanity’: The viral post explained
The post, which went viral within hours of being shared, did not hold back in its criticism. It pointed out a sharp discrepancy in how the film treats its protagonists.
“Ram gets a full-fledged sociopolitical crusade. Janhvi gets a midriff close-up. The film frames the denial of human identity as a systemic evil while denying Achiyamma [her character] the same humanity.”
The post also alleged that the actor had explicitly questioned certain shots during post-production, drawing professional boundaries to avoid being oversexualised. However, according to the post, “the final edit kept the footage anyway.”
“This isn’t a case of an actress failing to stand up for herself. It is a director choosing to ignore a boundary because he decided her consent mattered less than his box office numbers,” the Instagram post concluded.
The problematic ‘Love’ Track
Beyond the visual treatment of her character, Achiyamma, critics have slammed the film for a love track that is strikingly devoid of consent.
In one scene, Peddi (played by Ram Charan) declares that he wants to touch the heroine without her consent because she would never agree to love him and her father would never approve of the match. Later, during a power outage, he forcibly kisses her.
When Achiyamma breaks down crying, rather than receiving justice, she is told by another male character to “forget it” for the sake of her father’s political career. Viewers have pointed out the stark hypocrisy in the script, where the antagonist is villainised for similar actions, but the hero is absolved.
Film critic Anmol Jamvwa tweeted, “The romantic dynamic between Janhvi Kapoor and Ram Charan in #Peddi is one of the most disgusting and dated portrayals I have seen. Shameless shots of her navel and chest. No care for consent. Moral stance of a saviour while constantly ogling and letching at her!”
Did the Director cross a line?
The controversy surrounding Kapoor’s ‘like’ is particularly pointed given the actor’s public statements before the film’s release. During a pre-release event, Kapoor had famously declared that if critics were to find fault with her acting, they should “take director Buchi Babu Sana’s name.”
She had called the director the “rowdiest” in India, suggesting that the unusual mannerisms and physicality of her character came entirely from his direction. “Jo bhi maine kiya, aap inka naam lijiye (Whatever I did, take his name),” she had told the audience.
However, the allegation within the viral post suggests her discomfort went beyond mere creative differences—implying she explicitly objected to the final shots but was overruled.
Fans react: ‘A total embarrassment’
The mixed response to the film has left the industry divided. While some celebrate Ram Charan’s performance, the treatment of Kapoor has drawn widespread condemnation.
One user wrote on X: “The heroine deserved a character. Instead she got a string of vulgar, degrading, objectifying scenes stitched together and called a role. It ain’t bold.. it ain’t glamorous.. it’s just poor & cringe writing.. a complete embarrassment to every women in the audience.”
Another user expressed shock at the CBFC certification, asking, “Where was censor board this time??”
As the hashtags related to the film trend, Kapoor’s ‘like’—whether intentional or accidental—has validated the concerns of critics who argue that despite having the legacy of her mother, Sridevi, Janhvi’s talent was wasted in a role that prioritised titillation over substance.
