Actors, particularly women, have repeatedly spoken out about how they have faced unrelenting body shaming. The beauty standards in the Hindi film industry are so high and fixed in stone that many people submit to them and eventually agree to get surgery. Sharmin Segal Mehta, who released her debut film Malaal in 2019, also told how she was tormented and fat-shamed as a youngster for 14 years, leaving an indelible mark on her.She has recently been the target of constant mocking and criticism for her portrayal of Alamzeb in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. While some derided her acting abilities, others went to great lengths to trash her physical appearance, arguing she was not the right fit for Alamzeb.When discussing how performers endure the additional pressure of the audience judging them based on their appearance, she said, “When you’re accepting of who you’re as a person and how you look, that comes out through the authenticity of your craft. The audience judging you for how you look has an impact on your work. It’s sad that it comes in the way of your craft but that’s changing now for the better.”
