Anjali Anand Slams ‘Plus-Sized’ Label, Questions Industry’s Double Standards

The much-awaited crime-thriller series Dabba Cartel, starring Shabana Azmi, premiered on Netflix on February 28. With an engaging trailer, the show had already piqued fans’ interest. Anjali Anand, who plays a crucial role in the series, recently spoke about being labeled ‘plus-sized’ and questioned why actors like Govinda and Rishi Kapoor were never called that.

In an interview with Fever FM, Anjali Anand pointed out the biases in the industry. Despite her success on digital platforms, she has not been considered for lead roles in mainstream cinema. She said, "Nobody ever questioned when Govinda and Hrithik Roshan, who looked very different, coexisted in the industry. I love both, maybe Govinda a little more. But nobody called him a plus-size actor. Nobody labeled Rishi Kapoor as plus-size, he was just an actor. But when it comes to women, I am always called Anjali Anand—a plus-sized actor."

The Dabba Cartel actress expressed frustration with the constant focus on body size. She believes that weight should not define an actor’s talent. Despite knowing that promoting plus-size representation could benefit her financially, she refuses to capitalize on it because she sees no difference between herself and others based on body type.

Anjali also pointed out the industry’s double standards. She recalled how films like Chandni featured actors with different body shapes, yet their appearances were never discussed because they were men. However, when Vidya Balan played The Dirty Picture, discussions shifted towards her body rather than her performance. She questioned why male actors are never labeled ‘plus-sized’ while women constantly face such scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Dabba Cartel, directed by Hitesh Bhatia, features a stellar cast including Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Anjali Anand, Shalini Pandey, Gajraj Rao, and Sai Tamhankar. The series is written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher and produced by Excel Entertainment, backed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. The show’s creators include Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda.