Janhvi Kapoor Owns Up to Peddi’s Problematic Portrayal of Women

On the latest Koffee with Karan 9, Janhvi Kapoor did something rare for a star: she said her own film got its portrayal of women wrong.

The 29-year-old actor, speaking with Karan Johar, addressed the criticism around Peddi, the film in which she played Achiyamma opposite Ram Charan. Her comments could shape how fans and the industry view accountability on set.

What Janhvi said on the couch

Janhvi did not soften the language. She agreed that the film featured “extreme objectification” and asked, “Did it even propagate sexual assault narratively? Yes.” She told Karan that the negative impact “weighs heavily on my conscience” and added, “That shame I will always carry with me.”

She also described the shoot as uncomfortable. “It was a violating experience in a way,” she said, recalling the discomfort she felt while filming some of the contentious scenes.

The scenes that sparked the row

Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, arrived in theatres on June 4. After the release, viewers objected to how Achiyamma was introduced with focus on her body rather than her character, and to a sequence in which Peddi kissed her without consent during a power cut.

The backlash grew into a wider debate about how Indian cinema frames women and consent. Director Buchi Babu Sana later apologised on X.

Privilege, vigilance and a promise

Janhvi said she initially hesitated to speak because many people had worked hard on the film. But the possible impact on society, especially on her gender, changed her mind.

She admitted she should have been more vigilant during production and said she could have used her industry privilege to challenge decisions she found uncomfortable.

• She said she could have been more vigilant while the scenes were being created.
• She believes she should have pushed back instead of navigating quietly.
• She admitted she came from privilege and should have leveraged it.

Her response to the online discussion? “I am glad.” That is not a story of denial; it is a star asking what she could have done differently.

Why it matters now

For Hindi film fans, this is bigger than one talk-show clip. It is a reminder that actors are not simply following instructions on set. A leading actor can ask questions about a shot, a dialogue line or a scene’s message, especially when it involves consent.

Janhvi’s promise is narrow but clear: “The only thing I can do is ensure that it doesn’t happen again.” The real test will be whether her future choices match that line.

Source: India Today