Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Bipasha Basu Says Muscular Women Changed Bollywood Fitness Standards
Bipasha Basu spoke about how people viewed actresses’ bodies in Bollywood.
She said actresses once faced pressure to be petite, fair, and delicate.
Bipasha had a taller, athletic body and a tanned complexion.
She believes her appearance helped make muscular women more accepted in films.
She also said exercise should be about being healthy, not just looking attractive.
Masaba Gupta praised Bipasha’s muscles and athletic appearance.
An old video of Mrunal Thakur discussing muscular women later became popular online.
Mrunal received criticism and apologized for what she said.
Bipasha Basu said she believes she helped make muscular women more acceptable as Bollywood actresses.
She recalled that early-2000s actresses were often expected to have petite frames, fair complexions, and delicate features.
Bipasha said fitness should focus on health and self-acceptance, not only physical appearance.
Fashion designer Masaba Gupta praised Bipasha’s athletic build and the fitness standard she represented.
An old video of Mrunal Thakur discussing muscular women resurfaced, prompting backlash and an apology from the actor.
- Who
- Actor Bipasha Basu, fashion designer Masaba Gupta, and actor Mrunal Thakur are central to the story.
- What
- Bipasha Basu discussed changing Bollywood’s beauty standards and promoting fitness, while an old remark by Mrunal Thakur drew criticism.
- When
- Bipasha’s comments appeared in an interview with Elle India; the article does not provide the interview date. The Mrunal video resurfaced recently, according to the article.
- Where
- The discussion concerns Bollywood and took place through media and social-media posts.
- Why
- Bipasha wanted to emphasize health and self-acceptance, while the controversy followed renewed attention to comments about muscular femininity.
Health-focused fitness
Appearance-focused beauty standards
Purpose of exercise
Health-focused fitness
Bipasha Basu said fitness is intrinsically about being healthy and encouraged women to exercise for their well-being.
Appearance-focused beauty standards
Bipasha said many people pursue exercise mainly for physical externals rather than for health.
Muscular femininity
Health-focused fitness
Bipasha and Masaba Gupta presented an athletic, muscular physique as compatible with femininity and as a positive fitness standard.
Appearance-focused beauty standards
Mrunal Thakur’s resurfaced comments questioned the desirability of a muscular woman, describing such a physique as “manly”; she later apologized after criticism.
- Interview outlet
- Elle India
- Bipasha’s view
- She believes she started the trend of muscular women in Bollywood.
- Earlier beauty expectations
- Petite frames, fair complexions, and delicate features were commonly expected of female actors in the early 2000s.
- Fitness message
- Bipasha said exercise should be connected to health and self-acceptance, not only appearance.
- Support from Masaba Gupta
- Masaba praised Bipasha’s athletic build, muscles, and fitness standard in an Instagram Stories post.
- Controversy
- An old video featuring Mrunal Thakur resurfaced, leading to backlash and an apology.