This Anandi

TV and cinema are visual media so those who appear on it are bound to get comments on their looks. People still remark on Aamir Khan's height, SRK's nose etc. and in past, actors would get nicknames from public based on their physical attributes only, for eg., Amitabh was called Lambu.

Call it an occupationaol hazard but actors' looks do get discussed no matter what.

Prats also got a lot of comments on her when she replaced Avika in the show, later when Anjum entered, again she got comments on her acting and looks, she had to face another round of comments on her upon Sid's entry! People would comment on her height and use words like "bauni" and compare her inferiorly to Avika, Anjum and even Neha Marda.

I agree words like ugly should not be used for anyone.

But the fact is that such judgemental attitude is a given when an actor replaces another actor in a popular character. People commented on Prats because they were used to Avika. And now they comment on Toral because they were used to Prats.

Many times actors cover up for their looks with their talent or charm. Like in BV, Prats did very well as the deserted child bride and subjugated woman. So the comparisons stopped (though she still got comments later but that was mostly for height and would subside after a while).

Sorry to say, Toral has to work on her acting skills in a big way to fit in this role. Who'd have bothered about looks if her acting was fine and she'd fitted her character?

Looks can be ignored also if actor is good in his or her craft. Toral is experienced and has done so many shows but still her acting needs improvement!

It's hard to escape being judged if you're playing lead of a cult show!

I don't mean to compare actresses. But only saying all actors get judged and they have to slog it out to make audience get used to them or accept them. Shows like BV have high standards and people have lot of expectations from them. Earlier some people wondered if Sid was right choice for BV. But he proved himself with his acting and nuanced performance.

Everybody has had to live up to audience expectations. And acting matters more than looks. Otherwise, even beauty pageant winners don't get acceptance by audience. Fitting in the character that you have to play, is of paramount importance.

Edited by Skepblun - 05 August 2013 at 2:01am

it doesn't mean to say if others having been criticising actors' looks for ages then that makes it ok to do so. People have been taking drugs for ages, is that ok? Constructive criticism is valid as long as it does not border on malice. No matter how well Toral may perform, she will still be judged by a die hard P fan. Why Toral, the plot, the script everything gets trashed because of this. So the argument that it had been going on forever does not give one the licence to behave as such. It's a reflection on the critic and their humanity. It's also a type of bullying as in 'let's demean Toral on basis of looks so that they bring back our favorite'. Beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder and in order to elevate one it is not necessary to bing down another.

You feel they tried to mould Tanandi to walk, talk like Panandi and YET there are other P fans whose main gripe is that Tanandi is not like Panandi. In fact they were against her bring her own spin on Anandi YET that is what you want.

So again, beauty is as beauty does. The two actresses can be compared to thy kingdom come but one thing will remain the person comparing in a vile manner is the one to be judged.

the only thing is that her acting skills despite not being a new comer is not up to mark with the standard of BV.

the new gehna acts better than the new anandi

-BV DT