Actress Janhvi Kapoor has spoken candidly in the public eye, addressing concerns about hypersexuality, consent, paparazzi culture and the increasing misuse of digital content. During a conversation on Raj Shamni Podcast, the actress shared how such experiences have shaped her personal and professional decisions.
Janhvi Kapoor calls out oversexualization: “Zooming body parts without consent is offensive”
Recalling a recent interaction with the paparazzi, Kapoor said, “Recently I had a conversation with the paparazzi. I told them – this is bad for us, it feels invasive and non-consensual. Even though we dress in a certain way, we are not expecting that someone will zoom in on specific parts of the body. And more than us, it reflects badly on them – that they are using a woman’s body for money and views.”
While he said the photographer appeared receptive, Kapoor acknowledged that the issue was deeper. “They seemed receptive, but the issue is bigger – it’s about consumption. Globally, content objectifying women is the most consumed. That’s why it keeps circulating. Since you are a public figure in glamour, it happens to you more,” she explained.
Highlighting the importance of consent, he distinguished between exposure and exploitation. “At every stage, you have to ask – what did I consent to? For example, I did a song called ‘wet century’Where I am doing sensual dance in wet saree. It was meant to be sensual. If someone finds it attractive, that’s fine. But sexually exploiting someone without consent is completely different and I don’t agree with that.
Kapoor further explained how scenes were often changed without his knowledge. “There are certain angles and ways of shooting or editing things without my knowledge – zoomed in, slowed down. That’s not my consent. Even on a film set, if the camera is placed somewhere I’m not comfortable with, I need to be able to say no without being seen as unprofessional,” she said. “Earlier, I was more polite and picked my battles. Now I put my point across more clearly – though still politely. From.”
The actress also spoke about how such portrayals affect the trajectory of her career. She said, “I can’t stop caring, because these perceptions affect the audience, the filmmakers and the opportunities I get. If people keep seeing you in compromising scenes, they make an assumption about your character. It’s wrong, but it happens.”
He added that these perceptions also influence casting decisions. “Filmmakers think the same way. If they think you’re already highly visible in a certain way, they may hesitate to cast you. The audience’s perception directly impacts casting decisions. It’s sad that people judge your worth based on your clothes – but that’s the reality.”
Kapoor revealed that he has recently taken steps to limit his public visibility. “In the past few months, I have done everything possible to avoid being photographed. Last year I had three films released back-to-back – I felt like people saw too much of me.”
Despite not actively seeking media attention, he said the amount of content around him remains high. “People say actors call the media—I don’t, except for promotions. But there’s so much content out there about me already that it doesn’t feel like I’ve disappeared.”
Concluding his thoughts, Kapoor admitted that the fear of abuse continues to affect him. “I didn’t like the way I was being consumed – because of AI, editing and everything. Even when I post something now, I think too much – will it be misused or edited? I wish I could say I don’t care – but I do care.”
At the moment he believes caution is necessary. She said, “Right now, I’m not in a position of power where I can ignore it completely. So, I’ll play it safe for now, until I’ve built enough credibility for myself without any consequences.”
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