Actor Anjali Anand has opened up about the difficult reality of working in the film industry as a plus-size performer, revealing that her appearance has often been noticed before her acting abilities. While promoting her latest release Dhamaal 4, the actor reflected on the kind of roles she has received over the years and admitted that those experiences have not always been easy to accept. She also spoke about how body image continues to influence casting decisions in Bollywood despite conversations around diversity becoming more common. Her candid remarks have resonated with many people who believe actors should be judged for their performances rather than their appearance.
Although Anjali successfully built a career on television before making the transition to films, she believes breaking into Bollywood came with its own set of challenges. The actor said many of the opportunities she initially received were shaped by stereotypes attached to her body type instead of her talent. Looking back, she feels the industry still has a long way to go when it comes to writing meaningful roles for plus-size performers.
Anjali Anand Reflects on Bell Bottom Experience
Speaking to SCREEN, Anjali recalled her role in Bell Bottom, which marked her big-screen debut alongside Akshay Kumar. The actor admitted that she was disappointed by the limited purpose of her character and felt her casting was influenced more by her appearance than her acting skills.
She said, “I was in Bell Bottom only so that one terrorist could fall on top of me and get caught in the film. Such roles get offered to me because I am fat, and it hurts when people just try to make fun of it. They are not even seeing if I am a good actor or not. They just judge me on my body. According to them, I don’t fit the standards, but then, for them, even Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai are not good enough. Even Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan have faced criticism. These are just people who want to have an opinion just because they can. Their belief won’t change your reality.”
Her comments underline a broader conversation about body representation in mainstream cinema. While discussions around inclusivity have become more visible in recent years, Anjali believes many actors continue to be judged through stereotypes rather than their abilities. She also suggested that criticism based on appearance affects performers regardless of how successful or established they are.
Rocky Aur Rani Changed Her Career, But Also Typecast Her
Anjali also reflected on her performance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, where she portrayed Gayatri “Golu” Randhawa, Ranveer Singh’s younger sister. The film earned praise for giving her character a voice against body shaming, something she believes had rarely been explored in mainstream Hindi cinema before.
She said, “My character taking a stand for herself against body shaming in Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani. It was not something that had happened before. Earlier, a fat girl was just a fat girl in a film, who was only eating large portions of food. She was only there for comic relief, where someone was falling on her, or she was having a burger. Nobody had seen a fat person having a voice. When so much attention comes my way, I feel scared, because even the bad people will talk about me and troll me. In real life, Anjali has never needed to take that stand; no one has the guts to come and tell me anything. Nobody sees my weight first. In my private life, people just praise me for the person I am. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani changed the industry’s approach, but that also put me in a box which I tried to change with Dabba Cartel and Raat Jawan Hai.”
According to Anjali, while the film helped change perceptions about plus-size representation, it also resulted in her being offered similar kinds of roles afterward. She explained that she consciously looked for projects such as Dabba Cartel and Raat Jawan Hai to show audiences and filmmakers that she could perform beyond a single character type.
Busy Phase With Dhamaal 4
Anjali Anand first entered the entertainment industry through the web series Untag before gaining recognition with the television show Dhhai Kilo Prem. Over the years, she has steadily expanded her career across television, streaming platforms and films, earning appreciation for choosing characters with emotional depth. Her willingness to speak openly about industry stereotypes has also made her an important voice in conversations around representation.
She is currently seen in Dhamaal 4, directed by Indra Kumar, where she stars opposite Riteish Deshmukh. The comedy entertainer is headlined by Ajay Devgn and also features Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar, and Ravi Kishan in key roles. Released in theatres on July 10, the film marks another major step in Anjali’s growing film career as she continues to push for more meaningful opportunities on the big screen.
