Actor says weight, age and motherhood can change women’s bodies and are not invitations for public commentary
Actor and visual artist Naimal Khawar has spoken out against the relentless online scrutiny of women’s bodies, urging social media users to stop treating natural physical changes as subjects for public discussion.
Known for her role in Anaa and her work as a painter, Khawar recently took to Instagram after resharing a post speculating about her appearance at a recent wedding. Social media users had questioned whether she had gained weight or was pregnant.
“It’s honestly fascinating and sad how comfortable people have become commenting on a woman’s body,” Khawar wrote in an Instagram story. “Yes, my weight can fluctuate. Yes, I don’t look the same as I did five years ago. Yes, motherhood changes you in ways you can’t imagine.”
Khawar, who is married to actor Hamza Ali Abbasi and welcomed their son in 2020, emphasised that physical changes are a natural part of life rather than an invitation for public commentary. “Women’s bodies change with age, hormones, stress, health, lifestyle, and yes, sometimes pregnancy too,” she wrote. “None of these things are invitations for public commentary.”
Addressing women who face similar scrutiny, Khawar offered a message of reassurance. “You don’t owe anyone the same body you had five years ago, last year, or even last month,” she wrote. “Your body is allowed to change without becoming a topic of entertainment.”
Screengrab: Instagram
Khawar’s comments come amid a broader conversation in Pakistan’s entertainment industry about the intense scrutiny female celebrities face over their appearances.
Actor Kubra Khan recently spoke about the industry’s narrow beauty standards following online criticism of her pairing with Shuja Asad in the drama Doctor Bahu. Some viewers subjected Khan to harsh trolling, with comments about her age and weight compared with her co-star.
“The problem in our industry and culture is that there is a mould, which is so small that everyone can’t fit into it, and unfortunately, I am one of those people who can’t,” Khan said.
She also criticised the idea that women must conform to a particular physical ideal to be considered attractive. “I’m not a size zero. There is this perception that, to be seen as beautiful, a girl has to be thin, tall, and have nice hair. If you do not fit into that mould, you are not good enough,” she said.
Khan said she had naturally gained weight over the course of her career but found greater peace after choosing her health over unrealistic industry expectations.
“At the end of the day, I am human, and I will grow. I will change. There will be different seasons in my life, and that’s okay,” she said, advocating for being the healthiest version of oneself rather than conforming to an arbitrary ideal.
Previously, actor Sanam Jung also addressed body-shaming, particularly in the context of her drama Pyari Mona, which explored the experiences of an overweight woman navigating social judgement. Resharing a scene from the show, Jung criticised the normalisation of judging people based on their appearance.
“On a daily basis, we make people feel pathetic about being the way they are, and for looking the way they do,” Jung wrote on Instagram. “It’s high time we move on and look beyond physical features. Let’s put an end to bullying, body-shaming, and putting each other down. Live and let live.”
The experiences shared by Khawar, Khan and Jung point to a wider issue surrounding the scrutiny of women in the public eye, where weight, age and appearance can become subjects of constant online commentary.
Khawar’s message is ultimately a reminder that bodies change naturally over time and that such changes do not require explanation, justification or public approval.
