Katrina Kaif speaks out on social media criticism after post-pregnancy trolling

Indian actor addresses online scrutiny at a London event, urging people not to let social media shape their self-worth

Indian actor Katrina Kaif has spoken out against body-shaming and the pressure to meet social media expectations, saying that allowing criticism to dictate her choices could have left her “paralysed with fear”.

Speaking in London at an event marking the UK anniversary of her beauty brand, Kay Beauty, Kaif addressed the scrutiny she has faced over her appearance since becoming a mother.

“We really need to be careful of letting the narrative on social media affect our self-worth and our value,” she said, emphasising that online reactions should not determine how people perceive themselves.

Kaif's remarks came weeks after she and her husband, Vicky Kaushal, attended the Ambani family's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai in September.

Photographs and videos from the event prompted comments about her weight and appearance following childbirth. Kaif welcomed her son in November 2025.

The criticism also prompted an outpouring of support from fans, who challenged the body-shaming directed at new mothers. Filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth was among those who spoke out against judging women for changes to their bodies after pregnancy.

Without directly naming those who had criticised her, Kaif reflected on how trying to satisfy everyone could undermine a person's confidence and ability to make independent decisions.

“Personally for me, if every time that I faced critiques or comments, I let that dictate my actions, I think I would have been paralysed with fear and unable to move ahead in my life or in any sphere of life,” she said.

“There are times where the world is going to celebrate you and other times you have to really be your own biggest cheerleader,” she added.

 

 

 

 

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Kaif also linked her comments to Kay Beauty's tagline, “It's K to be you”, which promotes self-acceptance rather than the pursuit of a fixed ideal.

Acknowledging that confidence can fluctuate, she said people go through periods when they feel at their best and others when they struggle to reach that point.

“There are times when you feel like you’re acing everything in life, and there are other times when you feel like you just can’t get anything right. There are times when you feel like you’re looking and feeling like the best version of yourself, and other times when you’re kind of on a journey to get there,” she continued.

Kaif encouraged people to approach these ups and downs with perspective, saying it was important to “wear it all lightly and not take yourself too seriously also and just have fun with it”.

The debate surrounding Kaif's appearance has also drawn attention to the wider scrutiny women face over their bodies after pregnancy.

On a recent episode of Bigg Boss 20, host Salman Khan criticised those who comment on women's weight gain after childbirth. Although he did not name Kaif, his remarks were widely interpreted by viewers as a show of support for the actor.

Khan said weight gain after pregnancy was natural and that new mothers should be given time to spend with their families instead of being subjected to commentary about their appearance.

On the professional front, Kaif was last seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi in Sriram Raghavan's 2024 thriller Merry Christmas. Her anticipated projects include the all-female road-trip drama Jee Le Zaraa, while early discussions have also taken place around Chandni Bar 2.