Vidya Balan on being trolled for looking ‘older’ than Shahid Kapoor in Kismat Konnection, “It was a witch hunt obviously” : Bollywood News

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has consistently defied conventional norms. However, her journey in the film industry has not been devoid of challenges, particularly when it comes to societal standards of beauty and age. One incident that stands out is when she was unfairly trolled for supposedly looking older than her co-star, Shahid Kapoor, in the movie Kismat Konnection.

Vidya Balan on being trolled for looking ‘older’ than Shahid Kapoor in Kismat Konnection, “It was a witch hunt obviously”

The actress is promoting her film Do Aur Do Pyaar along with her co-star Pratik Gandhi. Recently, the duo spoke with Radio Nasha about the relationship drama. Vidya Balan was reminded during the conversation about the abuse she faced following the release of her 2008 romantic comedy Kismat Konnection.

The film garnered attention not only for its storyline but also for the chemistry between the two actors. However, amidst the praise, Balan became the target of online trolls who criticized her appearance, particularly in comparison to Kapoor, citing an apparent age gap between them.

Speaking on the issue, Vidya expressed, “Yes, some people did say that, and I think it was a witch hunt honestly for reasons that we won't get into right now. But it's really petty of whoever did it because (it) does not matter. I am two years older than him (Shahid Kapoor) and if I looked older than him, who cares? Love can happen between people of any age without making a big deal of it. But I guess that was another time when we did not have these conversations.”

A few days ago, at the inaugural session of Indian Express Expresso, Vidya Balan addressed the questions about facing discrimination in Bollywood. The star said, “Nepotism or no nepotism, I am here. Kisi ki baap ki industry nahin hai, nahin toh har baap ka beta, har baap ki beti successful hote [The film industry doesn't belong to anybody's father; otherwise, all the star kids would have been successful].”

In an industry where actresses are often pressured to maintain a certain image, Balan’s refusal to conform to ageist standards served as a powerful statement.

Also Read: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to have a dance face-off between Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan?