Actor Banita Sandhu, best known for her performances in October (2018) and Sardar Udham (2021), recently opened up about facing body shaming early in her career. In a candid conversation, the 27-year-old recalled being criticized for being “too skinny” during her time working in a South Indian film.

“I remember people calling me ugly because I looked like a twig,” she shared, adding, “They even questioned how the co-star could be attracted to me in the movie because I was so skinny. That was the first time I experienced body shaming.”

Though the comments stung, Banita didn’t let the negativity get to her. “It almost felt like a simulation because it was all happening online,” she said, and added, “It came from a culture I hadn’t grown up in, so I wasn’t as emotionally affected. I just realised, ‘Okay, the beauty standard here is different from how I look.’”

She added that her naturally lean frame often surprises people. “You can literally ask any producer I’ve worked with — I eat the most on set,” she said with a laugh.

Banita’s advice to others facing online criticism is simple: don’t take it seriously. “With anything online, you just can’t take it to heart... you really can’t.”