The first time I saw Vidya Balan, I was peeking over my mother’s shoulder as she watched Parineeta on the TV. Back then, everyone kept asking me to dress better, but I was more comfortable in oversized clothes than I was in my skin. Watching Vidya Balan own her beauty onscreen made me see a completely different way of looking at female bodies. She made me break out of the toxic web of fat-shaming and guilt.
Getting over the perfect Y2K body, the ‘size zero’
Image Credit: Dharma Productions
Unrealistic as it was, a lot of the early 2000s were ruled by the ‘Poos’ and the ‘Tinas’ we saw onscreen. These long-legged women with toned waists were the antithesis of what I looked like. As a bigger girl, it killed my self-confidence.
However, watching Vidya Balan rule the roost onscreen was when I realised that there is nothing unlovable about fat. Watching The Dirty Picture star gave me body confidence and allowed me to love myself for the first time.
The power of seeing representation onscreen à la Vidya Balan
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The confidence of seeing someone your size become popular globally is irreversible. You start following their success and visualising your own. As I saw Vidya Balan make space for herself with her beautiful acting and ‘unconventional’ body—as society dictated—I started forgiving my own body, even if it was a process.
I realised the power of celebrity culture when I was a teen, and most of it was because of Vidya. All around me as Y2K fashion reigned supreme, I realised how so much of the world was (and continues to be) built to not accommodate bigger people.
Low-waist jeans, crop tops, sheer clothing, short pleated skirts—all these things that looked so amazing on actors in Bollywood movies were not really made keeping fat people in mind, and I was harshly reminded of the reality after being made fun of.
Owning your body vs. loving your body
Image Credit: Tips Industries, UTV Motion Pictures
Falling in love with your body is a process. It takes time to unlearn hate, even when you know better. It took a major part of that decade for me to accept my body. I started wearing clothes that a teenage me would never have considered, acting more confident, and being open about my weight.
However, owning your body and loving it are different things. It was only when I started working on my relationship with food and exercise that I understood the beauty of having a healthy body. It’s still a process, but taking those first steps is critical.
Learning body positivity from Vidya Balan
Image Credit:T-Series, Abundantia Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video
From Parineeta to Sherni, my body and I have followed Vidya Balan enthusiastically onscreen, reveling in her confidence, elegance, and beauty. It has been a long journey of acceptance, and finally, I have reached a place where I can talk about body positivity. I have Vidya Balan to thank for it.
I loved to see her looking glamorous onscreen, shutting down haters, and espousing body confidence and positivity.
I loved Vidya Balan, and, by extension, I started to love myself too.
Social and lead image credit: Balaji Motion Pictures, Eros International, Alt Entertainment, AA Pictures, Vinod Chopra Productions, UTV Motion Pictures
