Janhvi Kapoor's Roles in Peddi and Devara Spark Debate on Cinema's Male Gaze

A growing debate has emerged in Koramangala and across Bengaluru regarding the systemic objectification and "male gaze" directed at female actors in commercial cinema, following the recent release of the Telugu film Peddi. On June 6, 2026, critics raised sharp concerns over the stark double standard in how actresses are portrayed in mainstream Indian cinema.

The discussion centers on the sharp contrast between actress Janhvi Kapoor's roles in Hindi cinema and her recent appearances in big-ticket Telugu commercial projects. In Hindi films like Mili and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Kapoor has portrayed women with agency, ambition, and emotional depth. However, in Telugu films like Devara: Part 1 and Peddi, critics argue she is treated more as a visual commodity than a character.

In Peddi, the camera frequently functions as an intrusive gaze rather than a storytelling device, fragmenting the actress's body by focusing on her waist and chest instead of engaging with her as a person. Furthermore, the narrative uses sexual violence against her character as a convenient plot mechanism to fuel the male protagonist's anger and moral crusade.

The film's narrative has also drawn criticism for framing the hero's justification of violence as an acceptable expression of love. This presentation exposes an industry hypocrisy where the same violation is deemed monstrous when committed by a villain but romanticized when done by a superstar protagonist.

While critics often accuse female actors of "selling out" for lucrative roles opposite major stars like Ram Charan or N T Rama Rao Jr., observers point out that the wider commercial film ecosystem leaves little choice. The industry's largest budgets, widest releases, and most powerful star vehicles often require actresses to accept roles designed primarily to enhance the hero's appeal at the cost of their own narrative agency.