"My weight issue had become a national issue."
Vidya Balan opened up on being body-shamed and ridiculed for her sense of style.
She explained how she dealt with it and revealed that at one time, she used to “hate” her body and her weight had become a “national issue”.
Looking back, Vidya explained that it was important for her to go through what she did.
The actress elaborated:
“It was important for me to have gone through what I did. It was very public and at that time it was so insurmountable.
“I come from a non-film family. There was no one to tell me that these phases don’t last.
“My weight issue had become a national issue. I have always been a fat girl; I wouldn’t say that I am at a stage where my fluctuating weight doesn’t bother me anymore at all.
“But I have come a long way. I have had hormonal issues all my life.
“For the longest time, I hated my body. I thought it had betrayed me.
“On the days I was under the pressure of looking my best, I would bloat up and I would be so angry and frustrated.”
Despite the negativity, Vidya took the time to accept her body and now, she is not bothered about what people say about “the length of your hair, the thickness of your arms, curves, height’ because it doesn’t matter”.
Vidya continued:
“What happened is that I began to love and accept myself a little more each day and therefore, I became more acceptable to people.
“They began to shower me with love and accolades and appreciation and all of that.”
“Over time, I accepted that my body is the only thing that is keeping me alive because the day my body stops functioning, I am not going to be around.
“I have a lot of gratitude for my body.
“It doesn’t matter what I have been through, I am alive because of this body. It’s blood and bones.
“With each day I have begun to love and accept myself more, but it’s not been easy.
“You have to fake it till you make it.”
Vidya Balan has openly spoken about her weight, previously stating that she was called “jinxed” in the South of India.
“I’ve been called ‘jinxed’ down South. I rejected my body all my life.
“I worked hard at accepting myself. That acceptance isn’t complete yet. It’s still a long way.
“People don’t understand that when you grow up a fat girl, it doesn’t leave you.”
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