Cinema VinesShehnaaz Gill, who first burst onto the national radar as the “Punjab ki Katrina Kaif” on Bigg Boss 13 in 2019, has turned the backlash she faced into a platform for body positivity. During a recent episode of the Male Feminist podcast, the Punjabi‑born actress spoke candidly about the online trolls who targeted her weight and diction while she was a contestant on the reality show.
Gill recalled that she was frequently called “unpad” and “gawar” – terms meaning illiterate and stupid – for her accent and the way she carried herself. She explained how those remarks, which she once took as a personal affront, eventually became a source of strength. “I used to get really trolled during Bigg Boss. For my body and my language, which later became my strength,” she said. “I had this Punjabi touch, and after I came out of Bigg Boss, I showed them that it’s not a big deal to drop some weight.”
She further elaborated on her own relationship with body image, noting that she feels proud when she gains a few kilograms and that the decision to change her weight is ultimately hers. “If you have put on four or five kgs, Shehnaaz, that’s okay. The changes are visible and it is up to us,” she added. When asked why society insists on an hourglass figure, Gill responded, “I don’t know why we all have to have an hourglass figure. Everyone is different. If someone starts a trend that healthier bodies are better, then that trend will take on but someone has to start it too.”
Gill’s experience on set further illustrates the double‑standard surrounding body expectations. While filming the romantic drama Ishqnama, her director instructed her to gain weight so her face would appear fuller. When she lost weight, the makeup artist was told not to contour her face, and she joked that she looked “golu molu.” She added that fans would comment on her weight fluctuations: “When I lose a little weight, people say, ‘Why did you lose weight? It doesn’t look good.’ When I put on weight, they say, ‘You have become fat. You should work on yourself,’ and I say, ‘Excuse me, what does the world even want?’”
Beyond her reality‑TV fame, Gill has carved a career in both Punjabi and Bollywood cinema. She first appeared in the 2013 film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan alongside Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh Daggubati and Bhumika Chawla. She later featured in Thank You For Coming, which premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and in the 2024 music video “Sajna Ve Sajna” from the film Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, starring Triptii Dimri and Rajkummar Rao. Her journey from regional star to national icon continues to inspire audiences, as she champions authenticity and self‑acceptance in the face of relentless scrutiny.
