Ram Kapoor 'slammed' after old video commenting on Smriti Irani's weight goes viral: 'Was my size as a woman'

A past interview of actor Ram Kapoor has resurfaced online, drawing attention once again to long-standing conversations about representation in the television industry. Known for his roles in early 2000s soap operas, Kapoor reflected on his journey in show business during a sit-down with Humans of Bombay. The video was originally released earlier but has now gained renewed visibility after being reshared by Brut India, leading to fresh discussions and criticism.

In the clip, Kapoor speaks about body image and how it has affected his career. However, what has sparked the most reaction is not his perspective on himself, but his comments about former Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi co-star Smriti Irani. Kapoor, now 51, makes a comparison between his physical appearance and Irani’s during their time on the show, which aired between 2000 and 2008.

“She was my size as a woman and probably more successful than me. It's just that she left earlier and that was Smriti Irani. When she started Kyunki Saas (Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) to when she ended, she was huge. See the first year of Kyunki and the last year of Kyunki, she's as big as I am. But equally successful,” he said in the video. He added, “It will be difficult for another guy to do it, I agree. But Smriti did it; she did it with all that weight.”

See the first year of Kyunki and the last year of Kyunki, she's as big as I am. But equally successful

- Ram Kapoor

The interview clip found renewed visibility after being shared on Reddit, where users were quick to express disapproval. Many felt that Ram Kapoor’s remarks shifted attention away from Smriti Irani’s professional journey and placed undue focus on her body. One user questioned the intent behind the statement, suggesting Kapoor seemed more interested in drawing attention to his own physical transformation than offering meaningful commentary. Another pointed out that Irani’s work on the long-running show continued even through pregnancies, noting that she had little opportunity to focus on weight loss due to the demanding shooting schedule. Several users commented on how Kapoor’s words seemed dismissive of Irani’s acting career and later achievements in public service. A common sentiment in the thread was that if Kapoor intended to speak about body image in the industry, he could have done so without using a former colleague’s appearance as a reference. One comment summed it up by saying, “She carried a hit show for years — her weight had nothing to do with it.”