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Actress Swara Bhasker hits back at body-shamers after motherhood
Published : Sunday, 27 September, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Observer Online Report
Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker has responded to years of body-shaming following motherhood by reclaiming one of the derogatory words used against her. At the premiere of the second season of the reality show Rise and Fall, Swara appeared in a purple saree paired with a blouse bearing the word “Moti,” which means “fat” in Hindi.
Swara has faced criticism over changes in her body since giving birth to her daughter three years ago. Speaking to host Virender Sehwag at the event, she said she had repeatedly been subjected to comments about her appearance by strangers on social media and elsewhere.
“My daughter is three years old. And for three years, so many people whom I don’t even know have commented about me on social media and elsewhere,” Swara said.
Recalling the words used to describe her, she added, “They said, ‘She has become fat.’ I said, I have become all of it. Now I am taking all these words and owning them.”
For Swara, wearing the word “Moti” was more than a fashion statement. It was a way of taking back the power of a word that had been used to shame her.
The actress had also spoken out about body-shaming earlier this year after sharing a photograph from 2018 on social media. She said she was surprised by the anger directed at her simply because her body had changed after childbirth and she had not followed the timeline set by strangers online to lose weight.
Swara has argued that a woman’s body should not be viewed solely through the lens of beauty or sexual attractiveness. She has also said that she never tried to “bounce back” after giving birth because motherhood permanently changes a person’s life and body.
According to Swara, expecting women to immediately return to their pre-pregnancy appearance places unnecessary social pressure on them. She believes physical changes following pregnancy and motherhood should be treated as normal rather than something that needs to be quickly corrected.
In a recent interview ahead of the Rise and Fall event, Swara said she wore the word “Moti” with pride. She explained that one way to take away the power of a word used to shame someone is to reclaim it for oneself.
Swara has previously cited Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as an example of the scrutiny women face after becoming mothers. She recalled how Aishwarya was subjected to comments about her weight after the birth of her daughter, Aaradhya, even as she was enjoying motherhood.
Swara has also referred to the recent criticism faced by actress Katrina Kaif over her appearance following motherhood.
Meanwhile, Swara is one of the contestants in the second season of Rise and Fall, which premiered on September 26. Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag is hosting the show.
The second season features 15 contestants, with participants divided into two positions-“Rulers” and “Workers.” Their positions can change depending on the games they play, decisions they make, alliances and strategies.
Apart from Swara, the contestants include Karan Patel, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Gautam Gulati, Tej Pratap Yadav, Shehzad Poonawalla, Siet Tomar, Kyra Anu, Manish Kashyap, Kajal Raghwani, Niharika Tiwari, Sara Gurpal, Raj Grover, Irina Rudakova and Aneesh Bhaga.
Rise and Fall is available on Prime Video and MX Player, with new episodes released daily.
Swara Bhasker married Fahad Ahmad in 2023. The couple welcomed their daughter, Raabiyaa, the same year.
-MT
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
