Actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani spoke openly about his experiences with body shaming and bullying during an appearance on Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s chat show Double Date, where he was joined by his wife and fellow actor Rakul Preet Singh.
Bhagnani revealed that he weighed nearly 150 kilos as a child and was frequently subjected to insensitive remarks. He recalled a specific incident involving a conversation among film producers. “I still remember there was a film made on Akshay Sir, Khiladi Ka Khiladi, that time, there was a chatter amongst producers that they are calling WWF wrestler Yokozuna, how he is being brought to India for Bollywood. It was a huge buzz then. During one such conversation, a little overweight uncle told my father, ‘Why do you need to call Yokozuna from outside? You already have one at home.’”
Bhagnani said the remark stayed with him long after the moment passed. “As a child, you laugh it off in front of people, but those things stay with you,” he said.
He also spoke about the broader culture of body shaming in India, noting its impact on young people. “When you are growing you are also part of all jokes. If you are overweight or dark-skinned in this country, people don’t think twice before bullying you. For example if someone is laughing there you feel, kahin ye mujhpe toh nahi hans raha, but in reality that person is not even aware of me,” he said, adding that such casual remarks are made without awareness of the damage they cause.
Bhagnani also described the turning point in his journey toward becoming an actor. “I told my father one day that I wanted to become an actor. He looked at me honestly and said, ‘I cannot launch you in this state.’ At that moment it hurt, but today I understand that he was trying to push me towards becoming healthier and more disciplined,” he said.
Determined to change his life, Jackky began an intense fitness journey that reshaped both his appearance and mindset. His candid reflections on Double Date with Rakul Preet Singh have resonated widely for their honesty and relatability.
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