Aishwarya Rai Weight Criticism Sparks Outrage
Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan delivered her child just seven months ago but has been scorned for not having lost the baby weight yet.
The Bollywood singer is well known for her beauty, and since an image of her with her newborn revealed a double-chin, Rai has been slammed in her native India.
Many people are complaining that the 38-year-old has not returned to her pre-pregnancy weight as fast as stars such as Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham did following the delivery of their children.
Online, comments have flooded entertainment and film sites revealing an outpouring of discontent with Rai's image.
One unkind fan wrote, "She is a Bollywood actress it is her duty to look good and fit."
Show business columnist Shobhaa De attempted to rationalize Rai's fan's outrage while speaking to New York Daily News.
"Aishwarya is like a goddess," said the columnist. "She is help up as the ideal of beauty and so there is an expectation on her to look perfect at all times."
Adding that every woman is different, De said, "The role models being held up are Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham, but our body frames are different- we have wider hips and curves- so this whole business of looking desperately skinny two weeks after giving birth is a western import."
The harsh criticism of the star has spurred debate in the country. In response to the comments, many people have risen in defense of the new mother.
"She is a real woman looking after a baby," wrote one fan, quoted by Yahoo News. "Not the Western belief of expecting people in the spot light to lose all weight in [one] month. If she dieted what will happen to the baby's diet."
Another fan wrote, "Kudos to you Aish for keeping it real and letting your baby have all the bonding and attention she needs with you. Enjoy your life."
Also, Rai has replied to the criticism of her weight, saying she is simply "enjoying motherhood."
The Bollywood star is slated to appear at the Cannes Film Festival next week, spurring speculation over how she will look.
