Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar has seemingly taken a subtle swipe at latest remarks made about Bollywood star Katrina Kaif’s post-pregnancy appearance, urging men to look within themselves and reconsider the way they judge women’s bodies.
The ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ star addressed the growing conversation around body shaming without naming anyone, sharing a video on Instagram in which he reflected on the “psychological issues” surrounding men’s attitudes towards women and their appearance.
Ali said he had recently come across social media posts targeting a former Bollywood colleague and co-star, with people comparing how she looked in the past with her appearance now.
While he did not mention Katrina by name, his comments came amid criticism directed at the actress over her post-pregnancy appearance following her recent public outings. The online discussion included comparisons between her appearance before and after motherhood.
Speaking about the wider issue, Ali emphasized that men, in particular, need to examine their own behaviour and acknowledge when they cross a line.
He explained that everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is recognising those mistakes, reflecting on them and trying to correct them.
The singer further challenged the notion that being a man gives anyone the privilege to decide how a woman should look, behave or live her life.
According to Ali, when a woman fails to fit the standards created by men, she is often unfairly looked down upon a mindset he described as wrong and unhealthy.
He urged people to be more compassionate, understanding and accepting, stressing that everyone is dealing with their own struggles and that outsiders cannot know what another person may be going through.
“It's not healthy to always criticise other people. They are all human beings and we have the potential to be nice to each other,” Ali said in his video.
He also reflected on changing beauty standards, pointing out that expectations surrounding women's bodies have shifted over the years, while unrealistic physical ideals are also imposed on men.
Ali’s remarks surfaced after Katrina Kaif became the subject of online commentary over her appearance following motherhood. The actress, who welcomed her first child with Vicky Kaushal last year, recently made public appearances that prompted social media users to compare her current look with older photographs.
The controversy also involved a recent post by Pakistani entertainment commentator Dr Ejaz Waris, who faced criticism over remarks about Katrina’s appearance. Reports described his comments as mocking her changed appearance and weight.
Although Ali did not identify the person behind the remarks, the timing and subject of his video have led to speculation that his message was aimed at the wider conversation surrounding Katrina’s body-shaming.