‘Kya farak padta hai tumhein Chintu kya sochta hai’: When Richa Chadha defended Aishwarya Rai against body-shaming

When asked how one should deal with online trolling, Richa’s response was sharp yet humorous, “Kyun tumhein deal karna hai bhai? Chintu Chandigarh mein baith ke kya soch raha hain tumhein kya farak padega? Chintu tumhare aage aa gaya tum usey chaprasi bhi nahi rakhoge apne ghar mein. Kya farak padta hain tumhein Chintu kya sochta hain? Chintu apni bhadaas nikal raha hai, uske peeche usko pain feel ho raha hai, uske paas naukri nahi hai, uski mummy LPG se chulhe pe aa gayi hain. Chintu kya karega? ‘Inki dress acchi nahi hai.’ Okay (Let them keep trolling, who cares what a random person thinks? People are unhappy with their lives, so this is what they do. Okay).”

Body-shaming, unsolicited opinions, and judgmental comments are something countless individuals deal with on social media every day. 

But why do people resort to trolling or body-shaming others online, and what psychological needs or frustrations might this behaviour be rooted in?

Sakshi Mandhyan, psychologist and founder at Mandhyan Care, tells indianexpress.com, “In my experience, trolling and body-shaming are often underlying symptoms of poor mental health. They highlight emotional frustration, personal bias and lack of human etiquette. People who engage in such behaviour frequently operate from projection (a defence mechanism). They transfer their own insecurities or resentment onto others. It is crucial to notice that the anonymity of social media lowers inhibition and allows impulses that might otherwise be regulated due to fear of consequence.” 

For some, she adds that this becomes a distorted way to seek validation or control. There’s also an element of social comparison; when someone feels diminished by what they see online, attacking others temporarily restores their sense of superiority. 

⁠While it’s easy to say ‘ignore the trolls,’ why do hurtful comments still affect many people emotionally?

Hurtful words strike deeply because they threaten our need for social belonging, Mandhyan says, a need that’s deeply wired into human psychology. Even when we know a comment isn’t true, our brain registers it as social rejection, triggering the same stress response as physical pain. I often encourage people to cultivate psychological distance —the ability to view a comment as information, not as identity. 

“Setting clear boundaries around when and how we engage online protects mental space. Instead of hardening ourselves, we can practice emotional regulation, which allows us to feel without being consumed. The goal is not indifference, but steadiness. It is equally important to differentiate between the intent and the impact of both the sender and the receiver. Disassociating from someone else’s intent is significantly helpful in eliminating those passive-aggressive impacts,” concludes Mandhyan.