‘National Crush’ of Yesterday under ‘National Scrutiny’ today

The pious Ganesh festival created massive festivities in not just Mumbai but entire country. There were humungous idols beautifully decorated with thousands of devotees vying to have a ‘Darshan’ of their favorite God. The scrolling feeds were inundated with visuals and videos from the grand celebrations at Antilla, Mukesh Ambani’s opulent residence in Mumbai. What followed was celebrities lining up to participate in the grandeur of events.

While social media went into a tizzy with numerous reels and photographs of the how celebrities participated in Lord Ganesha festivities, how they dressed up, if there could be a controversy – once Katrina Kaif stepped out with actor spouse Vickey Kaushal, it was as if all hell broke loose!

Suddenly everyone is having an opinion about the national crush of yesterday, who was suddenly not conforming to the standards of beauty they have set in their minds. How Katrina or anybody is expected to remain at their youthful best always and not follow the natural progression be it motherhood, personal milestones, navigating any difficult life situations, etc. This also shows how frivolous social media can be where the attention spans are very limited and it can drive you to take a superficial view without thinking comprehensively about it.

Katrina was blessed with a baby boy in November 2025. She is still in her post-partum phase. For different women, it may take different time period to return to their pre-pregnancy weights. Many may have an altered physical appearance, mainly due to increased body weight.

What is post-partum?

It is the phase after a woman gives birth. The body undergoes several physical, physiological and mental changes during this phase. According to Cleveland clinic website, Postpartum (or postnatal) refers to the period after childbirth. Most often, the postpartum period is the first six to eight weeks after delivery or until your body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. But the symptoms and changes that occur during the postpartum period can last far beyond eight weeks.

What the expert says?

“Katrina Kaif’s recent public appearance has caught the eyes and brought attention to postpartum weight gain. But it’s important to understand that bodily changes after childbirth are a normal part of recovery. Pregnancy can bring changes in hormones, body composition, fat distribution, muscle tone, and metabolism after delivery. Every woman experiences a different postmortem journey. It is governed by many factors including hormonal recovery, physical activity, nutrition, breastfeeding, and sleep. Hence, there should not be any unrealistic expectations on women to return to a pre pregnancy body within a fixed timeline,” says Dr Rajat Arora, Founder, Migaki Skin & Hair Clinic.                    

The case of Katrina Kaif shows that even women who have access to professional fitness and beauty support are not exempt from natural postpartum journeys.

Dr Rajat Arora, Founder, Migaki Skin & Hair Clinic.                    

He continues, “Instead, the whole postmortem care should be focused on supporting overall health, restoring strength and helping women feel confident and comfortable in their bodies. If a woman even wants to undergo any aesthetic treatments, it should be approached only after recovery and professional assessment. The case of Katrina Kaif shows that even women who have access to professional fitness and beauty support are not exempt from natural postpartum journeys. We need to replace the pressure to “bounce back” with a healthier focus on recovery, confidence, and individual wellbeing”

A mother is always revered for bringing another life to this universe. How come we are becoming so insensitive that we are commenting on someone who has just embraced motherhood? Irony is that  without knowing her personal journey or for that matter, knowing about the medical facts of post-partum, we are unabashedly passing the judgement. Another case of falling prey to ignorance!