Beyond the Screen: Why South Asian Entertainment Must Embrace Body Diversity to Support Women’s Well-Being
We keep scrolling, watching, and dreaming—yet the stories on our screens keep telling the same narrow tale: only one kind of body, one kind of beauty, is worthy of love, success, and happiness. For South Asian women, this isn’t just tiring; it’s harmful. It chips away at their self-worth, sometimes invisibly, sometimes with brutal force.
It’s time to break this cycle. South Asian entertainment needs to go beyond the screen and embrace body diversity in a real, meaningful way—not just token gestures, but genuine, heartfelt representation that uplifts women’s mental health and well-being.
Why Representation Matters More Than Ever
Representation isn’t just about visuals. It’s about validation. When women see themselves reflected in characters who are celebrated for their real, everyday bodies—curves, fuller figures, darker skin tones—it says, You belong. You matter.
Bollywood movies like Dum Laga Ke Haisha dared to challenge the status quo. It told the story of an overweight bride and the struggles she faces in a society obsessed with thinness. But while the film was celebrated, such stories are still few and far between.
Another Bollywood film, Luka Chuppi, showcased more body diversity in its supporting characters, though the lead roles stayed within slim, conventional beauty standards. It’s a start, but still far from the change needed.
Television and Digital Content: Tiny Steps Forward
In the Indian TV space, Meri Bhavya Life and Dhai Kilo Prem feature protagonists breaking the slim-body mold, giving audiences a refreshing view of plus-size women leading complex, inspiring lives. Meanwhile, digital platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime India are slowly introducing more diverse casting, but mainstream TV and cinema remain stubbornly conservative.
Pakistani dramas such as Pyari Mona and Oye Moti aren’t just stories—they’re acts of rebellion. They confront body shaming head-on and humanize women who don’t fit the narrow “ideal.” These narratives resonate because they reflect real struggles many face every day.
The Real-Life Cost of Media’s Narrow Lens
When South Asian media keeps glorifying only fair-skinned, slim bodies, the message is loud and painful: If you don’t look like this, you’re less valuable.
This obsession feeds anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and deep-rooted insecurities among women. It fractures self-esteem before women can even fully know who they are. Mental health struggles rise as women battle between cultural beauty standards and their own self-love.
What True Change Looks Like
Change isn’t just casting a plus-size actress once in a while. It means creating stories where body diversity is normalized, not a plot device or punchline. It means showing characters of all sizes, shapes, and skin tones in roles of strength, leadership, love, and complexity.
Films like Dum Laga Ke Haisha and shows like Meri Bhavya Life are glimmers of hope. But the industry must commit to rewriting the rulebook—because mental well-being depends on it.
A Call to Everyone Watching and Creating
If you’ve ever felt invisible or not “good enough” because your body didn’t match media’s mold, know this: You are enough. Your worth isn’t measured by a number on a scale or a shade on the spectrum.
To the creators—your stories shape how millions see themselves. Use your power to build worlds where every woman can feel proud, seen, and celebrated as she is.
Because South Asian entertainment must do more than entertain—it must heal.