Katrina Kaif faced online body-shaming after a recent appearance, prompting Ali Zafar, Shivaleeka Oberoi and fans to defend the new mother.
Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif has received widespread support after social-media users targeted her with body-shaming comments following a recent public appearance.
Kaif attended a Ganesh Chaturthi celebration with her husband, actor Vicky Kaushal. The event was among her first major appearances before photographers since she welcomed their son, Vihaan, in November 2025.
Images and videos from the gathering prompted some users to comment on changes in her appearance and weight. Fans and fellow actors responded by condemning the scrutiny and urging people to treat postpartum women with greater respect.
Ali Zafar Condemns Body-Shaming Comments
Actor and singer Ali Zafar, who worked with Kaif in the 2011 film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, criticised the remarks in a video shared online.
Zafar questioned why society believes it is entitled to judge whether a woman’s body remains desirable. He said people may be dealing with personal struggles that are not visible to outsiders and called for greater compassion.
He also argued that unrealistic expectations affect men, including pressure to maintain muscular or extremely lean physiques. Criticising another person’s body, he said, is neither healthy nor fair.
His response came after fans challenged derogatory posts about Kaif and rejected the idea that a celebrity must quickly return to her pre-pregnancy appearance, The Indian Express reported.
Shivaleeka Oberoi Defends Katrina Kaif
Actor Shivaleeka Oberoi had previously supported Kaif after another round of online criticism in August.
Oberoi described changes associated with motherhood—including bloating, exhaustion and the recovery process—as normal. She also criticised idealised portrayals of motherhood that create unrealistic expectations for women.
Kaif had been photographed with Vicky Kaushal while attending filmmaker Kuku Kohli’s funeral in Mumbai on August 26. Some accounts subsequently circulated her pictures alongside disparaging captions, prompting fans to speak out against the body-shaming, according to The Times of India.
Postpartum Recovery Is Not a Public Deadline
Changes in body size and appearance after pregnancy are common, and recovery differs considerably from one person to another. Photographs cannot reveal somebody’s health, well-being or recovery progress.
The criticism directed at Kaif has renewed discussion about the intense appearance standards imposed on women in entertainment. Such scrutiny can be especially intrusive after childbirth, when individuals may be managing physical recovery, disrupted sleep and new caregiving responsibilities.
Kaif and Kaushal welcomed Vihaan on November 7, 2025. They revealed their son’s name publicly in January 2026 while sharing a photograph of his hand, India Today reported.
Kaif has not publicly responded to the latest comments. Her most recent film was Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas, released in 2024.
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