13 July,2026 05:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anjali Anand. Pic via Instagram
Actor Anjali Anand has opened up about the challenges of being a plus-size performer in Bollywood, admitting that despite proving her acting skills, she has often been reduced to roles centred around her body type. The Dhamaal 4 actor revealed that she believes she landed her big-screen debut in Bell Bottom not because of her talent, but because filmmakers wanted someone with her physique for a comic moment.
Speaking candidly about body shaming and typecasting, Anjali said she has spent years trying to break free from the industry's stereotypes.
In an interview with SCREEN, Anjali reflected on her role in Akshay Kumar-starrer Bell Bottom, saying she was cast solely because of her size.
"I was in Bell Bottom only so that one terrorist could fall on top of me and get caught in the film. Such roles get offered to me because I am fat, and it hurts when people just try to make fun of it. They are not even seeing if I am a good actor or not. They just judge me on my body," she said.
The actor also pointed out that criticism based on appearance is not limited to plus-size performers. She added that even stars like Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have faced unnecessary scrutiny. According to Anjali, such opinions do not define an artist's worth or reality.
Anjali also credited Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani for changing how plus-size characters are portrayed on screen. In the Karan Johar directorial, she played Gayatri "Golu" Randhawa, Ranveer Singh's younger sister, whose character stood up against body shaming.
She said earlier films often reduced overweight women to comic relief, showing them eating constantly or existing only for jokes. "Nobody had seen a fat person having a voice," she remarked, adding that while the role received appreciation, it also led to her being typecast in similar parts.
The actor shared that she consciously tried to move beyond that image with projects like Dabba Cartel and Raat Jawan Hai, where she explored different kinds of characters.
Anjali began her acting journey with the web series Untag before gaining recognition on television with Dhhai Kilo Prem.
She was most recently seen in Indra Kumar's Dhamaal 4, opposite Riteish Deshmukh. The comedy, led by Ajay Devgn, also stars Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, Ravi Kishan, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Upendra Limaye and Vijay Patkar, and was released in theatres on July 10.
