Parineeti Chopra has spoken out against the scrutiny women face after childbirth, calling postpartum body trolling “absolutely illiterate” and questioning why changes linked to motherhood are treated negatively.
Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra has criticised the social-media scrutiny women often face after pregnancy, particularly comments about their bodies and expectations around how quickly they should return to their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Parineeti, who welcomed her son Neer in 2025, discussed postpartum body-shaming in a recent interview with Zoom. Her upcoming Netflix series Shaque: Trust No One marks her web-series debut as well as her first project after becoming a mother.
Parineeti Chopra Questions Postpartum Body-Shaming
Speaking about the trolling faced by women after childbirth, Parineeti described it as “absolutely illiterate” and questioned why physical changes caused by pregnancy are treated differently from other changes people willingly make to their bodies.
She compared postpartum changes with things such as developing abs through exercise or getting a tan during a holiday. According to Parineeti, those changes are generally understood as natural consequences of someone’s choices or experiences, while changes after childbirth are often subjected to unwanted commentary.
She said:
“So when you look at a woman, you’re like, ‘Oh my God, did you have a baby?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah, look at my stretch marks. I just had a baby,’ and I’m like, ‘Wow, congrats. How is your baby?’ Right? How has that turned negative?”
Parineeti also questioned why women are expected to return to their previous appearance within a particular timeframe after giving birth.
“Who the hell are you to tell a postpartum woman, ‘Abhi tumko 6 mahina ho gaya baby hue, abhi tum wapas aa jao’? I find it so illiterate.”
‘I Made a Baby’: Parineeti on Her Stretch Marks
The actor said she personally views her stretch marks differently, describing them as a reminder of becoming a mother rather than something that should be hidden or criticised.
“I look at my stretch marks like, ‘Oh my God, you know why I have the stretch marks? I made a baby.’ I find it so beautiful.”
She went on to question when physical changes associated with pregnancy became something society considered negative.
“How and when did that stretch mark or any change in your body become negative? It’s bizarre to me. Please live your life and just ignore these uneducated people.”
Her comments come amid wider discussions about the way female celebrities are scrutinised for changes in appearance following pregnancy, often with social-media users commenting on weight, skin and other physical changes.
Katrina Kaif Also Faced Postpartum Body-Shaming
Parineeti’s remarks come shortly after Katrina Kaif faced social-media comments about her appearance following the birth of her son in November 2025.
Katrina was recently seen at the Ambani family’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, after which videos and photographs of the actor circulated online. Some social-media users commented on her post-pregnancy appearance.
Several Bollywood personalities subsequently spoke about the criticism directed at women after childbirth. Salman Khan also addressed online trolling during Bigg Boss 20, questioning why people target women over their age, weight, appearance or motherhood.
Salman did not name Katrina directly in the remarks, but his comments were widely discussed in the context of the social-media criticism she had faced.
Parineeti Questions Double Standards for Female Actors
Parineeti also pointed to what she sees as a broader double standard surrounding female actors after marriage.
She questioned why women can face criticism for taking on certain unconventional or messy roles after marriage, while similar choices by male actors generally do not attract the same level of scrutiny.
Her comments add to an ongoing conversation in the entertainment industry about the expectations placed on actresses concerning marriage, motherhood, appearance and career choices.
Parineeti Chopra’s Shaque: Trust No One
Parineeti will next appear in Shaque: Trust No One, which marks her web-series debut and her first project after becoming a mother.
Created by Rensil D’Silva and Siddharth P. Malhotra, the Netflix series also features Jennifer Winget, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Soni Razdan, Anup Soni, Sumeet Vyas and Harleen Sethi in key roles.
The story follows a mother whose baby goes missing, sending her on a nine-year search for answers. As she gets closer to the truth, secrets surrounding her relationships begin to emerge, raising questions about trust and how well people know those closest to them.
Shaque: Trust No One is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 24.
