Shivani
Actor Ali Zafar urged men to reflect on unrealistic beauty standards and encouraged greater kindness, empathy, and compassion towards others. Ali Zafar and Katrina Kaif were seen together in the movie Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. The actor defended the actress and criticised those who body-shamed her online. Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif welcomed her son, Vihaan, with her husband Vicky Kaushal in November last year. Since embracing motherhood, the actor has largely stayed away from the spotlight.
Recently, she made a rare public appearance with Vicky at Mukesh and Nita Ambani’s Ganpati celebration. Her appearance quickly sparked online discussions, with several users sharing her pre- and post-pregnancy photos and commenting on her appearance. Amid the reactions, her Mere Brother Ki Dulhan co-star, Pakistani actor Ali Zafar, has now come forward in support of Katrina.
Ali Zafar Calls Out Trolls For Body-Shaming Katrina Kaif
A video of Ali discussing the recent social media debate over his former Bollywood co-star Katrina Kaif’s appearance has surfaced online. He said he had seen several posts and comments comparing her earlier and current looks. The actor-singer added that he has spoken against such trolling for years, including when his Pakistani colleagues, Mahira Khan and others, faced similar online criticism.
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The actor further added, “We all need to look within ourselves. Especially as a man, if I am speaking about this, I think it is very important for us to look within ourselves and make the necessary corrections. We have all made mistakes in life; no one is perfect. But it is important to recognise those mistakes and correct them. But if we talk man to man, the privilege we assume comes with being a man, and the way we perceive a woman, her body, the way she thinks and the way she lives — if she does not fit the standards that we have created, we immediately put that woman down.”
Ali talks about the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards and stated: “This is wrong; this is not the right way to look at things. Every person is going through their own struggles, and we do not know what someone else might be dealing with. So, we should be kind to people, compassionate, understanding, accepting and appreciative. If you study the renaissance, in the earlier era, concepts about women’s bodies were different. Then came a time when women were expected to have a zero figure, and even towards men, the expectations about six-pack abs are not realistic. They are not healthy. It’s not healthy to always criticise other people. They are all human beings and we have the potential to be nice to each other.”
The actor-singer concluded , “We all have a past. I will feel ashamed if I ever criticise someone on the basis of their looks. We all must look inside and, as men, we should correct ourselves that we shouldn’t do this. Every woman has their life, what she has gone through, what her past, present or future, let her live, and you live your life.”
Ali’s remarks came after social media users criticised Katrina’s appearance following her recent public appearances. One user commented on her look, writing, “I can’t tolerate this look of Katrina.” Katrina had also faced body-shaming after she was spotted at filmmaker Kuku Kohli’s prayer meet in August. Actor Shivaleeka Oberoi came out in support of Katrina and questioned the criticism surrounding her post-pregnancy appearance. She wrote, “Kya ho gaya hai (What happened) means?! This is Motherhood!”
Ali Zafar’s Bollywood Journey
Ali Zafar made his Bollywood debut with Tere Bin Laden in 2010, earning attention for his comic portrayal of a struggling news reporter. He later appeared in films such as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011), London, Paris, New York (2012), and Chashme Baddoor (2013). Already an established singer-songwriter, Zafar also showcased his musical talent in several Hindi films. Songs such as “Ullu Da Pattha,” “Madhubala,” and “Nahi Re Nahi” further highlighted his versatility as both a musician and actor in Bollywood.