ACTORS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PERFECT: CHHAVI MITTAL

The actor took to her social media to call out a troll who body shamed her

Chhavi Mittal recently took to social media to slam a troll who skinny-shamed her by commenting that her hands were “looking like a skeleton” on one of her posts. The actor dug out the comment — which also gave her unsolicited advice to not diet — and posted it to make a point against toxic opinions.

“The reason that comment got my attention was that since my 20s people have been telling me that I have very rough hands. It hit a nerve when this person said that my hand looked old,” shares the mother of two and adds, “I know I have skinny hands. I don’t mind it. I’m confident enough to accept myself the way I am.”

Mittal, 40, had also cited in her post that calling someone “skinny” is as disrespectful as calling them fat. Elaborating on this, she says she deplores the tendency that people have to judge others by physical appearance. “We’ve to start looking at people from within. Whether you’re fat or thin, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t bother me when someone doesn’t like me. But I took a stand because it bothers many others,” she adds.

The actor wanted to take this opportunity to start a conversation about how no one is above the societal constructs of beauty and says, “People think I’m perfect because I’m an actor, but even I get body-shamed.”

Social media has made celebrities more susceptible to negative comments, and Mittal admits she takes it with a pinch of salt. “So many people use atrocious filters to look fair or thin. That’s the benchmark you’re setting for yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable the way you are, then such comments will consume you. I go through all the comments, but I don’t let bad ones get to me, or good ones affect me in any way,” she concludes.