For Anjali Anand, Dhamaal 4 represents much more than another addition to her filmography. The comedy entertainer has become a turning point in her career, placing her alongside one of Bollywood’s biggest commercial franchises while also sparking conversations about body image and representation. As audiences debated her character after the film’s release, the actress says she has no interest in being viewed as a victim and wants people to focus on her work rather than her appearance.
After winning praise for her role in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Anjali stepped into Indra Kumar’s latest comedy alongside Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and the ensemble cast. While the film gave her one of the biggest opportunities of her career, it also brought renewed public discussion about how actors with different body types are portrayed on screen.
Why Anjali Anand Almost Turned Down Dhamaal 4
The actress revealed that accepting Dhamaal 4 was not an immediate decision. When she first heard the script, she questioned whether the role aligned with her personal beliefs. However, after thinking about what the project could mean for her career, she decided the opportunity was too significant to ignore.
“The first time I heard the narration, my first instinct was to say no because I said this is completely opposite of everything that I stand for in life. But then I thought about it and said, ‘Who is giving me this opportunity to be part of this cast and this franchise and have so much screen time?’ I said, who else is giving me this opportunity? Is anybody writing anything? No.”
Instead of walking away, Anjali chose to shape the character in her own way. She wanted Paro to be remembered for her personality and emotional strength rather than becoming someone audiences simply pitied.
“If someone is going to play this part, it’s going to be me, and I’m going to make sure that I make this part my own and I own it in a way that nobody will victimize Paro. Everybody will only love her, and in the end, love prevails. I would put a little bit of Anjali into Paro, give her that strength, and make her the main character of the film. That is my belief and my talent for what I can do with it.”
She Says The Conversation Should Be About Her Acting
Following the release of Dhamaal 4, much of the online conversation centered on Anjali’s appearance instead of her performance. The actress admitted that this pattern has followed her for years and remains one of her biggest frustrations. She believes interviews covering a wide range of topics often end up being reduced to discussions about her body.
“My narrative outside in this world is all about my body, and I don’t talk about my body at all. If, in a half-hour, 45-minute interview, I speak about 100 other things, someone will pick out that one line and just talk to me about my body. They victimize me; I don’t know why. I am the biggest person. I am the most non-victim person ever.”
Responding to viewers who questioned whether Dhamaal 4 promoted body positivity, Anjali said she understands why those conversations exist. At the same time, she believes her own journey should be viewed as part of a larger picture, where every role contributes to opening more doors for the future.
“Tomorrow, when I do make it big, and I do parts which they have been waiting for me to do, I will get to those parts by doing these parts now. I am not here to say that shaming is good or bad or whatever. I am not the pioneer of anything. I am just a pioneer of how people should be kind. I’m just here to show people that there’s all kinds of beauty.”
The actress also made it clear that if audiences remember only her appearance instead of the work she put into the role, she does not see that as her failure.
“If my size is all they saw and not the way I have acted and how I have shone in that part, then it’s a you problem. It’s not a me problem.”
‘I Am Anything But My Body’
Anjali spoke candidly about the constant comments she has received throughout her career and how they have shaped public perception. She said people often reduce her identity to her physical appearance, ignoring everything else she brings as an actor. Even compliments, she noted, frequently come with unnecessary conditions attached.
“People have just made me all about my body, and I hate that. I am so many things. I’m anything but my body. Every compliment I get is also backhanded. ‘You are fat but beautiful.’ I’m like, just say beautiful. I did ‘Dhai Kilo Prem,’ and within two months I was cast for ‘Kulfi Kumar Bajlewala.’ There were people who said that now that ‘Dhai Kilo Prem’ is done, who’s going to write another script for you? Now you have to lose weight, you have to be like Bhumi (Pednekar). I said, ‘Who are these people and what are these rules? What are these opinions? I’ll just be who I want to be and whatever I feel like doing’.”
Anjali Anand’s journey reflects the changing conversation around representation in Indian cinema. While debates surrounding body image continue, the actress remains focused on building a career through diverse performances rather than allowing labels to define her. With Dhamaal 4 expanding her reach among mainstream audiences, she hopes viewers will remember the characters she brings to life instead of judging her by appearances alone.
