Cinema VinesIndian film star Deepika Padukone, who welcomed her first daughter Dua in September 2024, recently faced a wave of online harassment when her pregnancy was questioned by a segment of social media users who claimed her bump was fake. The criticism intensified after she posted a maternity shoot that showcased her second pregnancy, sparking a broader conversation about body shaming and the scrutiny women endure during pregnancy.
In the new series of photos, Padukone posed confidently with her husband, actor Ranveer Singh, while their daughter Dua appeared beside them, looking “cute as a button.” The images captured Ranveer gently touching Deepika’s baby bump, and he added a heartfelt caption: “Baby Dua and our hearts are getting bigger! Thank you for your blessings! 🧿🙏🏽 @deepikapadukone.” The post was met with a wave of supportive comments from fans who praised the couple’s openness and the natural beauty of the moment.
The backlash prompted a social media reel by Instagram content creator Arshia Moorjani, who highlighted how women are routinely shamed for their bodies during pregnancy. Moorjani criticized the tendency to label pregnant celebrities as “fakers” and urged people to stop normalizing such accusations. She wrote, “Baby Dua looks just like Ranveer Singh to me! They are copy and paste… I saw a lot of speculation about Deepika Padukone faking her pregnancy with her first baby, which is so crazy to me. The fact that we have normalised it as a society with celebrities is wild to me. Not every celebrity is faking their pregnancy!” She concluded, “Deepika Padukone is not faking her pregnancy. She is clearly pregnant with baby number 2 so please let her have this moment. Stop normalising telling women with different body size that they are faking their pregnancies! This is such a beautiful moment in their lives. She looks stunning.”
Padukone herself responded to the criticism by sharing the maternity photos and encouraging her followers to respect her privacy. Earlier this year, the couple had announced their second pregnancy through a joint Instagram post that featured Dua holding a positive pregnancy test with two pink lines, a universal symbol of a positive result. The post, which included a simple series of evil eye emojis, was a subtle but clear confirmation of the couple’s growing family.
The couple, who married in Italy in 2018, have already welcomed their first child, Dua, and are now preparing to welcome a second. Padukone’s recent work includes a role in Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film “King,” marking her sixth collaboration with the Bollywood superstar. Despite the online harassment, the actress remains steadfast in her public advocacy against body shaming and continues to celebrate her motherhood journey with her family and fans alike.
