05 June,2026 10:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Peddi director on Janhvi Kapoor (Pic/Instagram)
Ever since Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor's Peddi has been released in theatres, fans have been unhappy about how the actress is portrayed in the film. Janhvi, who plays Achiyyamma in the film, is often objectified with shots of her chest and waist. Reacting to the backlash over her portrayal, director Buchi Babu said he did not anticipate the scenes being received so negatively.
As Janhvi's portrayal garners criticism, the film's director Buchi Babu said in an interaction with SCREEN, "I had not anticipated that the scenes would be perceived so negatively by audiences." The director added, "The idea was to showcase a playful romance story between Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. However, we'll be more careful and make better representations."
The introduction scene of Janhvi Kapoor's character in the film has sparked criticism for being highly problematic. Ram Charan's character is shown objectifying her by making derogatory remarks about her physical appearance. The situation escalates when his character later visits her home at night and forcibly kisses her.
Netizens are accusing the makers of hyper-sexualisation of Kapoor's character. Amid the criticism on social media, Kapoor appeared to like a post that analysed her role in the film. The headline of the post read, "Peddi: The Most Expensive Disrespect Ever Paid to a Leading Woman in Indian Cinema." Several celebs have reshared the post and shared their views on her portrayal.
Meanwhile, Peddi has opened to strong numbers at the box office. According to the makers, the Ram Charan-starrer grossed over Rs 135.36 crore worldwide on its opening day.
The sports action drama, set in rural Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s, follows the journey of a lower-caste villager who turns to wrestling in a bid to earn recognition and dignity for his community.
Apart from Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, the film also stars Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu, and Boman Irani in key roles. The film features music by A. R. Rahman and cinematography by Ratnavelu.
Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under Vriddhi Cinemas, the film is co-produced by Ishan Saksena under IVY Entertainment and presented by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings.
