Katrina Kaif hits back at body-shaming after pregnancy

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif has spoken out against online body-shaming and social media pressure following criticism of her appearance after becoming a mother. She urged people not to let public opinion affect their self-worth, saying constant criticism could leave a person afraid to move forward in life.

Speaking at a London event celebrating the UK anniversary of her beauty brand, Kay Beauty, Kaif reflected on the importance of self-acceptance and maintaining confidence despite negative comments. She said allowing criticism to control her decisions would have left her “paralysed with fear” and unable to progress in different areas of life.

The actor faced online scrutiny after attending the Ambani family’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai in September with her husband, actor Vicky Kaushal. Pictures and videos from the event sparked comments about her weight and physical appearance following childbirth. The couple welcomed their son in November 2025.

The criticism triggered a wave of support from fans and public figures, who condemned the practice of judging women for changes in their bodies after pregnancy. Filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth also spoke against body-shaming new mothers, highlighting the pressure women face to regain their pre-pregnancy appearance.

Without directly addressing individual critics, Kaif said people should not allow negative reactions to determine their choices or undermine their confidence. She noted that while there are moments when the world celebrates a person, there are also times when individuals must support themselves.

The actor linked her message to Kay Beauty’s tagline, “It’s K to be you”, which promotes individuality and self-acceptance rather than unrealistic beauty standards. She acknowledged that confidence naturally changes over time, with people experiencing both periods of self-assurance and moments when they struggle to feel their best.

Kaif encouraged people to take life’s ups and downs in their stride instead of placing excessive importance on criticism. She stressed the value of maintaining perspective, enjoying life and avoiding unnecessary pressure to meet others’ expectations.

The debate over her appearance also drew attention to the wider issue of body-shaming women after childbirth. On a recent episode of Bigg Boss 20, host Salman Khan criticised people who comment on women’s weight gain after pregnancy. Although he did not mention Kaif by name, viewers widely interpreted his remarks as support for the actor.

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Khan said weight gain after childbirth was natural and that new mothers deserved time to recover and spend time with their families instead of facing unnecessary scrutiny over their appearance.

Professionally, Kaif was last seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi in Sriram Raghavan’s 2024 thriller Merry Christmas. Her anticipated projects include the all-female road-trip drama Jee Le Zaraa. Early discussions have also taken place regarding Chandni Bar 2.