Janhvi Kapoor feels she should have done more to challenge the portrayal of women in Peddi, admitting that the film featured extreme objectification and a narrative that could propagate sexual assault. Speaking on the latest episode of Koffee with Karan 9, the actor said the criticism surrounding her character, Achiyamma, continues to weigh heavily on her conscience.The 29-year-old described filming some of the scenes as a “violating experience” and recalled feeling uncomfortable throughout the shoot.

The controversy centred on sequences that viewers said objectified Achiyamma and showed her being kissed without consent.Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film starred Janhvi Kapoor opposite Ram Charan. The film was released in theatres on June 4.During the conversation, host Karan Johar asked Janhvi how she had processed the criticism and came to terms with her involvement in the film.

She said she was initially unsure whether she should address the controversy because many people had worked hard on the project. However, she felt she could not ignore the possible impact of such a narrative on society. “I feel many people worked really hard on that film, and I really didn't know if there was anything to say.

It weighs heavily on my conscience, the sort of negative impact a narrative like that can have on our society, specifically on my gender. That shame I will always carry with me,” she said.Janhvi acknowledged that the film's portrayal of women was problematic and propagated sexual assault narratively.

The actor admitted that she could have been more vigilant while it was being made. “Could I have done more? Could I have been more vigilant?

One hundred per cent, yes. Was it problematic?

Was it extreme objectification? Did it even propagate sexual assault narratively?

Yes. But the only thing I can do is ensure that it doesn't happen again,” she said.Janhvi reflects on decisions during shootThe actor said the controversy made her reconsider her decisions during filming.

She blamed herself for not being more vigilant and wondered whether she should have pushed back more strongly against the scenes.“I feel like I went through the beats of really beating myself up, thinking that I should have been more vigilant and I should have made a bigger scene. I don’t like saying this because it sounds like I am shifting the blame, but you know what it feels like?

You feel like, whatever the director says, I was navigating how to make things less problematic as best as I thought, as and when information was becoming available to me,” she said.Janhvi also acknowledged her privileged position in the film industry and said she could have used it to question decisions that made her uncomfortable.“I do come from a place of privilege. I should have taken advantage of that because I am going to get the shit for being privileged anyway.

So, I might as well have leveraged it,” she said.Recalling the filming of the contentious scenes, Janhvi said, “It was a violating experience in a way.” She also spoke about the “discomfort throughout shooting”. When asked about the online discussion prompted by the controversy, she replied, “I am glad.”What sparked the Peddi controversy?After the film's release, viewers criticised the introduction of Achiyamma and the depiction of her relationship with the lead character.Audiences objected to sequences that focused heavily on Achiyamma's body instead of establishing her as a character.

Another scene faced criticism over its portrayal of consent. In the sequence, Peddi expressed his desire to be with Achiyamma despite her lack of interest.

He later kissed her without her consent during a power cut.The scenes led to a wider debate about the portrayal of women in films and the depiction of sexual assault on screen. Director Buchi Babu Sana later apologised on X and acknowledged the concerns raised by viewers.Janhvi appeared on the episode of Koffee with Karan 9 alongside Varun Dhawan, while Arjun Kapoor also made an appearance.- Ends