Janhvi Kapoor has signed on for her next big film, a month after the ‘Peddi’ controversy, teaming up with Pagglait director Umesh Bist for the first time. Meanwhile, the actress has yet to respond to the ‘Peddi’ row, in which a section of netizens criticised the portrayal of her character, Achiyamma, accusing the makers of objectifying her.
Janhvi Kapoor’s new film to be backed by Balaji and Sikhya
As per Variety India, Janhvi’s upcoming project remains untitled at this stage. The film will be produced by Ekta Kapoor‘s Balaji Motion Pictures alongside Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, with the shoot expected to begin around October-November this year. Details regarding the storyline, genre and cast are yet to be revealed.
Umesh Bist also directing ‘Pagglait 2’ alongside Janhvi Kapoor’s film
Meanwhile, Umesh Bist will also be juggling directorial duties on ‘Pagglait 2’, the sequel to the 2021 Netflix hit, with Sanya Malhotra expected to return as Sandhya, continuing the story from where the first film left off.
Janhvi Kapoor’s ‘Peddi’ role sparks objectification debate
Meanwhile, Janhvi’s role in ‘Peddi’ had opened up a larger conversation about how women are portrayed in commercial films. A lot of viewers found fault with the film’s camera angles, close-up shots and romantic scenes, saying they turned her character into just a visual object rather than giving her something meaningful to play. Some put the blame on Janhvi, while others felt actors shouldn’t be held responsible for a filmmaker’s creative choices.
Director apologises, celebrities react to Janhvi Kapoor’s ‘Peddi’ row
In the wake of the backlash, director Buchi Babu Sana issued an apology and dropped the controversial scenes from the film. The row also drew reactions from several celebrities, including Jaya Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nithya Menen, Jagapathi Babu and Dimple Hayathi, many of whom called for better-written female characters and a broader shift in how women are depicted in mainstream cinema.
