Janhvi Kapoor has opened up about the controversy surrounding her character Achiyamma in the sports drama Peddi, admitting that she could have done more to prevent the objectification she faced on screen. During her recent appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9 alongside Varun Dhawan, the actor addressed the intense backlash regarding the film, which was directed by Buchi Babu Sana and stars Ram Charan. Janhvi candidly confessed that the situation continues to weigh heavily on her conscience, acknowledging that the film’s narrative crossed lines that should not have been breached.
When asked by host Karan Johar about the criticism, Janhvi did not shy away from the hard truths. She admitted that the portrayal of her character was problematic and agreed that it leaned into extreme objectification, even conceding that it may have propagated a narrative around sexual assault. While she noted that she was often navigating these issues without the benefit of a bound script or prior knowledge of specific camera angles—a common challenge she highlighted in South Indian film productions—she made it clear that she is not looking to shift the blame entirely onto the director.
Reflecting on her role in the project, the actor expressed regret for not using her position in the industry to voice her concerns earlier. She acknowledged her privilege and stated that she should have leveraged it to demand better representation, especially since she faces scrutiny regardless. Janhvi emphasized that the only path forward is to ensure such mistakes are not repeated in her future work. The controversy surrounding Peddi previously led to a public apology from director Buchi Babu Sana, who maintained that the team had no intention of disrespecting women, and several criticized scenes were subsequently edited or removed from the theatrical cut.