Actor Katrina Kaif has faced a wave of social media trolling over her appearance after childbirth, prompting fellow actor Shivaleeka Oberoi to speak out against what she called an “ridiculous” mindset.
Katrina recently made a rare public appearance with husband Vicky Kaushal in Mumbai. The couple attended the prayer meet of filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who died on August 25. Pictures and videos from the event quickly circulated online, with some social media users commenting harshly on Katrina’s body and appearance.
A section of users questioned her changed appearance after pregnancy, with some making insulting remarks about her weight. The comments drew criticism for placing unrealistic expectations on women to quickly return to their pre-pregnancy bodies.
Shivaleeka Oberoi, who herself became a mother a few months ago, came to Katrina’s defence through an Instagram Story. Sharing a post featuring Katrina, she questioned why people were reacting with such surprise to the actress’ appearance.
“Kya ho gaya hai means?!?! This is Motherhood!” Shivaleeka wrote. She went on to explain that postpartum recovery can involve physical and emotional changes, including bloating, tiredness and changes in body shape.
She also urged people to stop promoting an unrealistic image of motherhood. According to Shivaleeka, women should not be expected to immediately look the way they did before pregnancy.
“Stop glorifying a version of motherhood that doesn’t exist,” she wrote, adding that after seeing several similar posts in recent days, she could not help but find the thinking behind them “ridiculous”.
Katrina and Vicky welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Vihaan Kaushal, on November 7, 2025. Since becoming a mother, Katrina has largely stayed away from the public spotlight, making her appearance at the prayer meet one of her few recent public outings.
The incident has once again brought attention to the pressure faced by actresses and new mothers over their appearance. Celebrities are often expected to quickly regain their pre-pregnancy physique, despite postpartum recovery being different for every woman.
Shivaleeka’s reaction has also sparked a wider conversation online about body-shaming and the need for greater empathy towards women after childbirth. Her message was clear: motherhood should not come with an expectation to meet an unrealistic physical standard.
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