Actor Swara Bhasker has spoken out against postpartum body-shaming, calling it an ignorant form of public discourse and urging people to stop commenting on women’s bodies. In an interview with India Today ahead of her appearance on Rise & Fall Season 2, the actor also discussed motherhood, her return to reality television and the challenges of balancing work with raising her young daughter.
Swara, who previously appeared on Pati Patni Aur Panga alongside her husband, Fahad Ahmad, said her decision to participate in another reality show surprised some of her family members and friends, who had advised her against it.
However, the experience of her earlier show helped her see reality television differently. She said it gave audiences an opportunity to see a side of her personality that is often overshadowed by her political views and public image.
“I discovered that Pati Patni Aur Panga was actually a really nice experience for us,” Swara said, explaining that reality television could also offer her a way to balance professional commitments with time at home.
She described doing one reality show a year as a possible way to continue working without sacrificing too much time with her daughter.
Why Swara Bhasker Is Choosing Reality Television
The Veere Di Wedding actor explained that returning to scripted projects requires considerable preparation and emotional investment, which can be challenging while caring for a toddler.
“I find fiction very intensive because it requires a lot of prep for me,” she said, adding that reality television allows her to remain professionally active while spending more time with her child.
Swara also admitted that she had not watched Rise & Fall when the opportunity first came her way. Nevertheless, she viewed the show as an opportunity to explore how much control a person can exercise over their public image in an unscripted environment.
Swara Calls Postpartum Body-Shaming ‘The Lowest IQ Form of Discourse’
Beyond her reality-show appearance, Swara addressed the online trolling women face after childbirth. She strongly criticised people who target new mothers over postpartum weight and physical changes.
“I find this postpartum body-shaming the lowest IQ form of discourse,” she said, describing the harassment of mothers as particularly insensitive.
The actor argued that being thin or conventionally beautiful should not be treated as a measure of a person’s worth. Instead, she emphasised being a good person and maintaining fitness and health in ways that support an individual’s everyday life.
“You should be functionally fit for your own life; that’s it,” she said, questioning the beauty standards promoted by the entertainment industry.
Swara also reflected on how motherhood can transform a woman physically and emotionally. Referring to the scrutiny faced by celebrities, including Katrina Kaif and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, after becoming mothers, she called for greater empathy towards women navigating the postpartum period.
“Motherhood is like a tsunami,” she said, describing the experience as a profound transformation that can be difficult to navigate.
She added that criticism directed at women over their post-pregnancy appearance reflects a lack of humanity and understanding, and argued that such behaviour should be challenged rather than normalised.
‘Men Just Need to Shut Up’: Swara’s Message to Online Trolls
Swara’s message was especially direct when she addressed men who comment on women’s bodies.
“I think men just need to shut up. Honestly, even if they’re not popular and famous, just leave women alone, leave moms alone. Please, we don’t need your attention,” she said.
Her remarks underline the pressure mothers can face to meet public expectations about how quickly they should return to their pre-pregnancy appearance. By speaking openly about postpartum body-shaming, the actor challenged the idea that women owe anyone a particular look after childbirth.
Where to Watch Rise & Fall Season 2
Rise & Fall Season 2 is produced by Banijay Asia and hosted by former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. The show streams on Amazon MX Player, with episodes listed for release at 12 pm, according to the supplied programme information.
Swara’s appearance brings together two themes she discussed in her interview: navigating public perception and finding a workable balance between her career and motherhood.
