The escalating controversy surrounding the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor in the rural sports drama Peddi has taken a dramatic turn. A series of unverified, leaked private chat screenshots, allegedly belonging to the actress, have gone viral across social media fan accounts. The explosive conversations offer a distressing, behind-the-scenes look at her reported discomfort with the film’s filming process and specific camera angles used by the crew.
The unverified leaks surface at a time when Peddi is already facing severe public scrutiny from audiences and critics alike over the hyper-sexualization of Janhvi’s character, Achiyyamma. The leaked texts suggest that the actress was fighting an uphill battle on set regarding how her body was being framed on screen, prompting immediate conversations about female safety and objectification in regional cinema layouts.
Inside the Alleged Leaked Chats
In the leaked screenshots, Janhvi Kapoor allegedly details her frustration with repetitive close-up framing. One text bluntly reads: “I told him no bb and waist shots.”
The texts reveal that leading man Ram Charan stepped in to protect his co-star after witnessing the discomfort. Janhvi allegedly writes: “And Ram sir is so sweet. He also yelled at him and said, ‘You will not take such angles of her ever again.’ So he got upset.”
Expressing deeper anxiety, the actress allegedly hinted that this wasn’t an isolated incident on this project alone, writing: “It keeps happening in the south.”
The final segments of the leak showcase a vulnerable message to a close fan account: “You have no idea what I’ve been dealing with. Trying to make them understand.”
Director Buchi Babu Sana Promises Instant Reforms
The leakage of these private conversations has amplified the ongoing backlash, which recently forced director Buchi Babu Sana to issue a formal, unconditional public apology and promise an entirely revised theatrical print of the film with the objectifying angles completely trimmed out.
“As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected,” Buchi Babu Sana posted in an official statement on X. “We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously. I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character.”
While representatives for Janhvi Kapoor have yet to issue a formal statement confirming or denying the authenticity of the leaked screenshots, the development has triggered a massive debate among netizens regarding the systemic treatment of Bollywood actresses transitioning into South Indian film projects.