Bipasha Basu says muscular women weren’t acceptable as actresses when she started out, months after Mrunal Thakur’s comment on her muscles from an old interview went viral |

Bipasha Basu has often been associated with her athletic physique, but her fitness journey also played a role in challenging the beauty standards that dominated Bollywood in the early 2000s. At a time when female actors were largely expected to have petite frames and delicate features, Bipasha stood apart with her tall, muscular build and dusky complexion. Now, the actor has reflected on how she believes she helped change the conversation around women and fitness in the industry.Her comments come after an old video of Mrunal Thakur resurfaced online, in which she appeared to take a dig at Bipasha’s muscular physique. The clip triggered a wider debate about women’s bodies and health, while Mrunal subsequently faced criticism over her remarks.In an interview with Elle India, Bipasha recalled how different the prevailing beauty standards were when she entered Bollywood. She pointed out that female actors were often petite, fair and known for delicate features, while her athletic appearance made her stand out.Bipasha also acknowledged that women with a muscular physique were not particularly accepted as actresses at the time. However, she believes her appearance helped pave the way for a different kind of representation of female fitness.“I don’t think women with more muscle tone were very acceptable as actresses. But I think I started the trend, and I started preaching ‘love yourself’ to everyone because I realised it’s not just about looking good. It’s more intrinsic. You need to be healthy.”According to Bipasha, the shift encouraged more women to exercise and think about fitness as a means of staying healthy rather than simply achieving a particular appearance. However, she remains unsure whether the focus on fitness today always comes from the right place, questioning whether people exercise for their health or primarily to look good.The actor also addressed another pressure that women in the entertainment industry frequently face — ageing. Bipasha said she has no intention of allowing societal expectations to dictate how she should look as she gets older.“Ageing is like the biggest sin that you can commit. I believe that I like myself more, the person that I am today, much more than what I used to be in my twenties. What other people are doing, it’s their call. I don’t judge that. But for me, I’m never going to fall into the pressure of wanting to look younger than what I am. I’m very happy with the way I am growing older, and I’m very proud of my age.”Meanwhile, the discussion around Bipasha’s physique resurfaced in connection with an old comment made by Mrunal, dating back to her television days. In the video, Mrunal was seen chatting with her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit Taneja as they discussed the kind of physique one might prefer in a partner.While responding to Arjit, Mrunal brought up Bipasha and said, “Do you want to marry a girl who is manly with muscles? Go marry Bipasha. Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, ok.”The old clip eventually went viral on social media, leading to significant backlash against Mrunal. The actor later apologised for the comment on social media.While the resurfaced video reignited criticism surrounding Mrunal, Bipasha’s recent comments offer a broader perspective on the very beauty standards that once made her muscular physique stand out in Bollywood. For the actor, fitness has always been about health, self-acceptance and feeling comfortable in one’s own body rather than simply conforming to expectations around appearance.