Renuka Shahane Defends Aishwarya Rai's Cannes Looks, Slams Body-Shaming

In November 2025, veteran actor Renuka Shahane spoke out in defense of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, addressing the unfair criticism the actress has often faced over her appearance, particularly after becoming a mother. Aishwarya, who is frequently in the spotlight for her Cannes Film Festival looks, has been trolled in the past for her post-pregnancy weight gain.

Renuka acknowledged that female actors often face tremendous pressure in the film industry, especially with the rise of social media. She said, "With social media, it has become a completely different world. There are so much judgment and pressure -- it's very tough for actors, especially women. After becoming a mother, there's an expectation to look exactly the same as before, which is unfair."

Renuka further argued that Aishwarya's achievements should be celebrated, not her weight. "Should we not celebrate her consistent achievements over the years? It doesn't take a minute for a big company to drop a celebrity. Yet, she has been the brand ambassador for the same company for years, representing India with grace. And all people can focus on is, 'Oh, what she wore wasn't right.' Please don't do that. If you don't have anything nice to say, just stay quiet."

Aishwarya's husband, Abhishek Bachchan, had also previously spoken out against the insensitive remarks about his wife's post-pregnancy body, saying it was "extremely insensitive" and that "people forget she's also a woman and now a mother."