How Bollywood's obsession with unrealistic body standards turned toxic!

keyadesai21
Dec 12
2 min read

How Bollywood Created “The Perfect Body” Obsession

1. The Hero Body: Abs = Character Certificate

For years, Bollywood sold the idea that a “real man” has:

6-pack abs
Broad shoulders
Zero body fat
Veins more visible than their acting range

Shah Rukh’s Om Shanti Om 6-pack era literally made every teenage boy think abs = success.Hrithik Roshan’s “Greek God” tag? It made fitness an unrealistic race.Tiger Shroff, Vidyut Jammwal, John Abraham — they became benchmarks, not inspirations.

Bollywood never showed:

normal male bodies
healthy fitness journeys
struggles behind extreme diets

Just “perfect” men magically looking like gym gods 24/7.

The Heroine Look: Size Zero = Beauty

Let’s talk Kareena Kapoor’s Tashan moment — the Size Zero Revolution. It glamorized extreme dieting like it was a flex.

Actresses suddenly had to:

be impossibly thin
have tiny waists
maintain “camera-ready” bodies
follow diets that basically mean eating air and vibes

From Deepika to Katrina to Aishwarya, heroines were expected to be slim, toned, and flawless — even after pregnancy, life changes, or health issues.

This wasn’t beauty. It was pressure marketed as glamour.

Bollywood’s Body Shaming Problem: Laughing at Fat People Since Forever

Bollywood didn’t just promote toxic fitness…It mocked any body that didn’t fit its ideal.

1. Fat characters = Comedy Punchlines

Our movies turned larger bodies into:

jokes
background props
“funny friend” stereotypes

Examples?

Kal Ho Naa Ho: Sweetu was literally mocked throughout the film.
Dhoom 3: Ali’s weight was used as a recurring joke.
Main Hoon Na: Satish Shah’s sweating and body size were comic gags.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: Ladki moti = undesirable, until makeover fixes her.
Student of the Year: If you’re not slim, you’re “unfit” for the cool squad.

The message was clear: If you aren’t thin, you’re not beautiful or worthy of screen time.

The Worst Part: Future Generations Absorbed All This

Bollywood shaped how millions of Indian kids saw their bodies.

What we internalized:

“If I get thin, I’ll be loved more.”
“Fit means abs, not actual health.”
“Girls must be small and delicate.”
“Fat people deserve to be laughed at.”
“Looking good is more important than feeling good.”

We didn’t choose these insecurities —they were fed to us by movies we worshipped.

And now:

teens are dieting at 13
gym obsession is normal
body dysmorphia is widespread
social media has amplified Bollywood’s old messaging

If Bollywood had shown diverse bodies back then, imagine how different today’s world would be.

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab (FAQs)

1. Did Bollywood actually start India’s unhealthy diet culture?

Yes. Bollywood glamorized extreme dieting and unrealistic bodies long before social media existed, influencing generations to equate thinness with beauty.

2. How did movies body shame characters?

Larger bodies were used as jokes, side characters, or “unattractive” personas. These portrayals normalized mocking people based on weight.

3. What impact did this have on young viewers?

Kids and teens grew up believing they must be slim, muscular, and “perfect” to be liked or respected. This triggered body image issues, dieting, and low self-esteem.

4. Are Bollywood’s standards still toxic today?

They’re improving, but many mainstream films still promote unrealistic physiques. Actors continue intense transformations that aren’t sustainable for ordinary viewers