Shehnaaz Gill has opened up about the criticism she faced during her Bigg Boss 13 journey, recalling how viewers targeted both her appearance and the way she spoke. The actor and singer said she was labelled “anpadh gawaar” because of her language, while her body also became a frequent subject of online trolling.
Before entering Bigg Boss 13, Shehnaaz was primarily known in Punjab through music videos and regional entertainment. Her stint on the reality show, however, changed her public profile dramatically and introduced her to a much wider national audience.
That visibility also came with intense scrutiny.
Shehnaaz Gill remembers being trolled on Bigg Boss
Speaking about her experience, Shehnaaz recalled facing criticism for both her body and her Hindi.
“I was very trolled on Bigg Boss because of my body. I was also trolled a lot for my language,” she said.
The actor remembered being called “anpadh gawaar” because of the informal way she communicated on the show.
Rather than allowing those comments to define her, Shehnaaz now views some of the qualities that attracted criticism as part of what made her connect with audiences.
Her unfiltered personality, distinctive way of speaking and willingness to be herself eventually became important elements of her public image.
Shehnaaz says body changes should not define confidence
After Bigg Boss 13, Shehnaaz underwent a visible physical transformation. However, she said losing weight was not something she considered a major achievement or requirement.
“After I came out of Bigg Boss, I showed them that it’s not a big deal to drop some weight,” she recalled.
At the same time, Shehnaaz stressed that gaining weight should not automatically be viewed negatively either.
She explained that there are occasions when she gains a few kilos and feels completely comfortable with it. According to her, the more important consideration is whether a person feels good about themselves.
Her comments reflect a broader argument against treating one particular body type as the standard for beauty.
‘Why do we all have to have an hourglass figure?’
Shehnaaz also questioned society’s continuing fixation with the hourglass figure.
“I don’t know why we all have to have an hourglass figure. Everyone is different,” she said.
She pointed out that beauty standards can change according to trends. In her view, if society begins celebrating healthier or different body types, those preferences can eventually become part of the mainstream.
For Shehnaaz, there is no single physical template that everyone needs to follow.
Shehnaaz recalls filming Ishqnama
The actor also remembered an experience from the making of Ishqnama, where her appearance was shaped according to the requirements of her character.
She recalled that her director did not want her face to appear too thin and would ask the makeup artist not to contour it excessively.
“My director would come and tell my makeup artist, ‘Don’t contour her. Her face is looking very thin right now. It won’t match,’” Shehnaaz recalled.
When she eventually saw herself in the film, she said she was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked the look.
“When I watched my film, I looked a little golu molu. I said, ‘Oh my God, how sexy I look!’” she recalled.
From Bigg Boss trolling to embracing individuality
Shehnaaz’s comments highlight how dramatically her relationship with public perception has evolved since Bigg Boss 13.
The qualities that once attracted criticism—including her accent, conversational style and appearance—eventually became closely associated with her identity as a public figure.
Her experience also underlines the unpredictable nature of celebrity culture. An appearance that may become a target for online criticism can simultaneously become a source of recognition and audience connection.
