Pakistani RJ Ejaz Waris has apologised to Katrina Kaif for his remarks about her post-pregnancy appearance. His apology came after Salman Khan addressed the trolling on Bigg Boss 20. The incident has also sparked support for the Ek Tha Tiger actor from several Bollywood celebrities and fans.
What Actually Happened?
Katrina Kaif attended the Ambani family's Ganesh Chaturthi celebration with her husband Vicky Kaushal on September 14. It was one of her first major public appearances in months. Soon after, pictures and videos from the event led to comments about her weight and appearance.
(Image: Pallav Paliwal)
Dr Ejaz Waris, a Pakistani radio jockey and entertainment commentator, was among those who commented on Katrina's appearance. He later shared an apology on Instagram.
He has apologised to Katrina Kaif after his remarks about her post-pregnancy appearance drew criticism online. "SORRY KATRINA KAIF, from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely apologize to Katrina Kaif for my recent remarks."
He added, "After Salman Khan mentioned yesterday on Bigg Boss, I reflected and realized that my words may have hurt Katrina and many of her fans. Body shaming was never my intention. I'm also sorry to Salman Khan and to everyone who felt offended. Sometimes words come out wrong, and I genuinely regret mine."
Waris also called Katrina a 'superstar of India' and said he was genuinely sorry. He later turned off comments on his post, according to reports.
Who Is Ejaz Waris?
Dr Ejaz Waris is a Pakistani radio jockey and entertainment commentator. He has worked in radio for several years and has hosted shows featuring Pakistani actors and singers, according to Brut.
His archived work includes entertainment interviews with Pakistani celebrities. Reports have also identified him with Mast FM 103, while his Mixcloud profile describes him as a doctor, TV host, radio jockey and showbiz commentator.
What Did Salman Khan Say?
Salman Khan questioned why people were commenting on Katrina Kaif's weight after she had recently become a mother. He pointed out that weight gain after pregnancy is common and said she should be allowed to spend time with her family before returning to films.
Waris later referred to the Bollywood star's comments while explaining why he reconsidered his own remarks. In a video, he said he watched the Bigg Boss clip in which Khan mentioned him and realised that he should not have made those comments.
Ali Zafar Was Among The First To Support Katrina
Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar, who worked with Katrina in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, also spoke up for her after she faced comments about her appearance.
He questioned the beauty standards imposed on women. He also pointed out that expecting women to maintain a 'zero figure' while men are expected to have six-packs all year is unrealistic.
He urged people to be more understanding of the physical changes women go through after pregnancy instead of judging them for their appearance.
Fans Also Hit Back At The Trolls
Katrina Kaif's fans were quick to call out the comments. Several users pointed out that she had recently gone through pregnancy and motherhood and did not need to meet any fixed beauty standard.
Social media users also criticised the circulation of 'before and after' pictures comparing Katrina's body before and after pregnancy. The posts brought fresh attention to the pressure on women to quickly return to their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Bollywood Celebs Defend Katrina Kaif
Actor Hrithik Roshan also showed support by liking a post defending Katrina and criticising the trolling.
Parineeti Chopra also spoke about the issue and criticised the practice of commenting on postpartum bodies in a conversation with PTI. Her comments came days after Salman spoke about the trolling.
The actor called the discussion around postpartum bodies 'uneducated'.
Chopra said, "But making a human life, a baby, that evidence on the body is not celebrated. How is it negative? I would look at a woman and say, 'Oh my god, I see a stretch mark. Did you grow a baby? That's so amazing. How is your baby?' That's how I would look at it."
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Sameera Reddy also shared a body positivity post amid the controversy. She encouraged people to accept their bodies and not let outside opinions decide how they feel about themselves.
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar and TV actor Sonarika Bhadoria also defended Katrina.
Katrina Kaif's Appearance Sparks A Bigger Debate
Katrina Kaif has not directly responded to the trolling. However, in a recent interview, she spoke about how pregnancy changed her approach to beauty, health and self-care. She said her focus has shifted towards feeling good rather than simply looking a certain way.
The episode has also brought back discussions around the way female actors are judged for ageing, weight changes and motherhood. Earlier, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and even Kareena Kapoor faced trolls following their pregnancy weight-gain.
FAQ
1. Who Pakistani RJ Ejaz Waris?
He is a Pakistani RJ and entertainment analyst who has covered Pakistani cinema and show business in addition to working in radio and television.
2. What did Salman Khan say?
Salman defended Katrina from the trolls on Bigg Boss 20 by criticizing those who made comments about her postpartum weight and appearance.