Karan Johar, Ram Kapoor, Kusha Kapila face Ozempic barbs: Why this appetite for hate when it comes to celebs and their bodies? 

Bhumi is not alone, though. Karan Johar’s ‘drastic’ transformation sent netizens into a frenzy recently. His weight loss triggered a ‘the nation wants to know’ online, where people casually accused him of using weight loss drugs and then proceeded to offer their opinions on how the Dharma head honcho looked post his weight loss.

Given the huge amount of ‘concern’ that people showed about the numbers on Karan’s weighing scale, the producer-director proceeded to give a bunch of interviews and even shared his diet and workout plan to assure people that he wasn’t using medicines to lose weight. Why he needed to explain himself to a bunch of strangers is a question we don’t seem to be asking.

Karan was preceded by actor Ram Kapoor, who lost not just 55 kgs but presumably any future projects with Ekta Kapoor. Ram’s transformed appearance triggered an online spat between his wife Gautami Kapoor and Ekta about whether bade or chote ache lagte hain. The less said, the better about these innuendo-laden barbs they threw at each other on Instagram. Like Karan, Ram also proceeded to give interviews and attend podcasts where he repeatedly clarified that he had not used Ozempic or GLP-1 drugs to create his new look. Digital content creator and actor Kusha Kapila has been trolled and questioned about her weight loss. Responding to one such netizen, who asked her about using Ozempic, Kusha had said, “HI! Will you please specify how you think it’s Ozempic? What is your source? Please be honest, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.” When the person said she didn’t have an answer, Kusha added, “Acha so it’s totally assumption. Cool. So, without shame and full honesty, it’s not Ozempic. It’s consistent workout and clean eating. Hope that answers your question.”

Ironically, the trolls are just as vicious and nasty when a celebrity gains weight or shows signs of ageing. Take Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, for example. Once hailed as the most beautiful woman on the planet, the actor and former Miss World has been the victim of online bullying about her weight, her clothes, her hairstyle and even the colour of her lipstick. There seems to be a Goldilocks-like standard of perfection for celebrities, that allows them to keep projecting their inadequacy and self-loathing onto them.

Audiences often build a perception or attach certain attributes to public figures that help to form a connection with them. Bhumi, for example, thrives in roles which are powerful and yet woman next door. She has proven her talent in films like Bhakshak, Bheed, Lust Stories, Badhai Do and of course her memorable debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha. Over the past few years, the actor has transformed herself considerably, and the creation of a glamorous new avatar has coincided with films like Thank You For Coming, The Lady Killer, Mere Husband Ki Biwi, and now Royals, which haven’t been her best performances on screen. It seems like the disconnect with her characters on screen, or couture choices off screen, has translated to body shaming and trolling.

Ram Kapoor, who gained nationwide fame playing the cherubic but lovable Mr. Kapoor on the television show Bade Ache Lagte Hain, has always had a great screen presence and charm. But when he lost a huge amount of weight, fans felt like he had lost the imperfect, everyman essence that made him popular. Karan has unfortunately become the favourite punching bag for trolls, especially since the pandemic. No matter what he does or doesn’t do, the online savages are always baying for his blood. While these may be possible explanations, they do not and cannot justify personal attacks or casting aspersions on any individual. There may be several reasons why a celebrity, like every one of us, undergoes a physical transformation; whether that’s weight loss, weight gain, or surgical modifications to their appearance. Maybe it’s their health, maybe it’s the pressure of working in an industry that, inspite of all its talk on body positivity, seems to be doubling down on setting impossible beauty standards for stars. Social media and zooming into pictures of celebrities has only added to the pressure of looking perfect constantly.

Think about it, when was the last time you saw a plus-sized leading man or leading lady in any mainstream film? In fact, there has never been a more homogenous-looking bunch of stars at public events and award shows. The sad truth is that we love talking about how a person looks. Most conversations or small talk start with comments about whether a person has gained or lost weight, or changed physically in any way. All of us dread meeting that one friend or relative who doesn’t hesitate to make cruel comments with the disclaimer of ‘concern’, added. We seem to live in a toxic society where we are comfortable as long as we feel the other person is not good enough or does not feel good about themselves like we do. This impulse is only magnified a hundredfold when there is a celebrity involved.

While changing the mindset of a million people online may be difficult, celebrities can shift the discussion from their bodies to their body of work by not using their weight or weight loss as a PR peg. More importantly, don’t discuss personalised diet plans and exercise plans on public platforms because no matter how many disclaimers are added, there is always the risk of people blindly following someone else’s food or exercise regimen. There is nothing more fickle than one’s physical appearance. Ageing is a privilege, and our weight often reflects a lot more than our eating habits. If only there were a drug that could suppress our appetite for spewing hate on others. We could call it Mind Your Own Business 101 or MYOB 101.