Bhumi Pednekar’s recent performance in Netflix’s The Royals was a disaster, and people on the internet couldn’t help but point out how everything felt expressionless—and her evident lip fillers are being blamed.
Bhumi was first recognized for her part in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, where she played the role of an overweight girl. Many of her roles following this film have been about small-town, relatable girls, which made Bhumi famous among the middle-class audiences she very well represented.
Early on in her career, Bhumi pointed out how actors and stars don’t realize that people are influenced by them, and how they have to be responsible for how they portray themselves.
Is that the case now for Bhumi as well? Many people on social media have openly expressed their disdain for Bhumi’s performance in The Royals and how she was the wrong person to be cast. Some even pointed out how, because of her lip fillers, Bhumi wasn’t able to give any expressions—which took a lot away from the show.
For an actor, expressions are everything; it’s how you connect with your audience—and that’s the very thing Bhumi seems to be trading for the so-called “perfect look.”
Bhumi is also being compared to the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, known for altering their entire bodies to get the “small waist, fuller lips” look.
Lip fillers and Botox aren’t new for celebrities; their faces sell, and the industry can be demanding.
Many are defending Bhumi, saying it’s her choice how she decides to look without being judged for it. But it’s also important that she keeps her acting roots intact and doesn’t forget where she started.
Bhumi lost a lot of weight after Dum Laga Ke Haisha, and people praised her for her efforts. But it was her dedication to acting that got her recognition in the first place. Altering her body won’t make much difference if she stops putting in effort to act well.
It’s clear Bhumi wants to make her mark—but is focusing on appearance really the way to do it?
