Exclusive – Rise and Fall 2: Swara Bhasker makes bold statement on body-shaming by wearing a saree with a ‘moti’ text: ‘Motherhood changes…’ |
When Swara Bhasker entered the reality show Rise and Fall, she made a strong statement about body-shaming and the way women are judged after pregnancy. Before entering the house, Swara spoke to Times of India about body positivity, motherhood and the constant scrutiny of women’s appearance. She also made a statement with her outfit. Swara wore a saree featuring the word “Moti,” a term often used to shame women for their weight. She also made a statement with her outfit. Swara wore a saree featuring the word “Moti,” a term often used to shame women for their weight. Swara turned the word into a message of confidence and self-acceptance by wearing it proudly.Talking about her choice to wear the saree Swara says, “The word ‘Moti’ is written on my saree and I am wearing it proudly. I think the best way to answer people who want to shame you is to remove the power of that word. Why should I be embarrassed about my body? Why should any woman be? After pregnancy when your body has changed much we need understanding instead of constant trolling.”
Swara supports new mothers
She added, “Motherhood changes your body and it is completely natural. We need to stop expecting women to immediately look the way they did before pregnancy. A woman’s worth does not become less because she has gained weight or her body looks different. There is much pressure on women to ‘bounce back,’ but I do not think we should celebrate how quickly a woman can erase the physical changes that come with becoming a mother.”Swara aims to normalise body positivity and women owning their bodies: “I wanted to wear the saree because I truly believe we need to normalise women owning their bodies without worrying about what somebody behind a screen will say. If someone sees the word ‘Moti’ and thinks it is an insult, that is their view. For me, it can simply be a word I choose to embrace. I do not want women to feel that they must shrink themselves to fit into somebody’s idea of beauty.“The Ranjhana actress concludes, “Women go through so much during pregnancy and motherhood. The last thing they need is strangers telling them how they should look. Instead of trolling a woman because her body has changed, we should respect the journey she has gone through. I am comfortable wearing this saree; I am comfortable with myself. That confidence is far more important than somebody else’s opinion about my body.“
