Actor Ashika Ranganath told CE in a recent interaction that she views glamour as the portrayal of female beauty in a way that is graceful. The actor said this in response to the treatment of her character in the film Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi. She has doubled down on her statement, this time in response to the discourse over the treatment of Janhvi Kapoor's character in Peddi, starring Ram Charan and directed by Buchi Babu Sana.
Many have come out in criticism of how Peddi treated Janhvi's character, describing the male gaze towards her as 'vulgar' and 'crass'. The intense discourse over it forced director Buchi Babu Sana to apologise for the same. Recently, Janhvi Kapoor herself expressed her discomfort in being portrayed in such a way that the industry often terms 'glamorous'.
Meanwhile, there is still a tendency among the audience to revert to victim blaming, accusing the actor of profiting from such roles while characterising her dissent as a case of her playing the victim card. Sharing her thoughts on the topic through her Instagram Stories, Ashika Ranganath wrote, "Don't blame the actress. Blame the system and the makers who still think this is what sells."
Explaining her perspective further, Ashika added, "Actors often work within the opportunities available to them, hoping to be part of bigger films and reach wider audiences. If female characters feel underwritten, the responsibility lies more with the writing and filmmaking choices than with the women playing those roles."
Ashika's thoughts come at a time when Peddi makers face flak for over-sexualising Janhvi's character in the film and for its scenes normalising non-consent. Reportedly, Janhvi even liked a social media post describing Peddi as a film that disrespects one of Indian cinema's leading female stars.
