Saif Gets Older, But Kareena Is Called ‘Old’: Why Are Female Stars Judged Differently?

Celebrity lives have always attracted public attention. Marriages, children, films, relationships and changes in appearance often become topics of discussion. But social media has also highlighted a recurring double standard: changes that are considered natural for male stars can become targets of ridicule when they happen to women.

Ageing, pregnancy, motherhood, body changes, intimate scenes in films and even a husband’s professional struggles have all become reasons for female celebrities to face personal criticism.

Several high-profile Bollywood examples illustrate the contrast.

Katrina’s Post-Motherhood Appearance Becomes a Target

Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal married in 2021 and welcomed their son, Vihaan, in 2025. Like any new mother, Katrina’s body and appearance naturally changed after childbirth.

Yet those changes became a subject of online commentary. Some users compared her old and recent photographs and made remarks about her weight and appearance.

Vicky has also changed physically over the years, but he has not faced the same level of commentary about his appearance.

Actors including Salman Khan, Parineeti Chopra and Pakistani actor Ali Zafar have spoken out against such trolling. Zafar called for greater sensitivity and empathy, while Salman questioned why people feel the need to comment on someone’s weight, appearance, family or motherhood.

Deepika’s Baby Bump Was Questioned Too

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh married in 2018 and welcomed their first child, Dua, in September 2024. Almost two years later, they became parents to a second daughter on September 19.

When Deepika’s first pregnancy was announced, congratulations were accompanied by uncomfortable speculation about her baby bump. Some social media users even claimed that it was fake.

The discussion intensified when she appeared publicly with Ranveer during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Photographs and videos led some users to question whether she was actually pregnant.

Journalist Faye D’Souza defended Deepika, pointing out that the actress had simply gone to vote and had not asked anyone for an opinion about her body or pregnancy. Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Shaheen Bhatt and Soni Razdan were among those who supported the message.

Similar discussions returned during Deepika’s second pregnancy, while questions were also raised about the age gap between her two children.

Yet having children is a joint decision between two parents. Despite that, much of the public discussion surrounding pregnancy and motherhood continues to focus disproportionately on the woman.

Kiara Faces Questions Over an Intimate Scene—But What About Yash?

Kiara Advani recently faced intense online discussion over intimate scenes with Yash in the film ‘Toxic’, particularly scenes from the song ‘Tabaahi’.

The criticism did not remain limited to the film itself. Some users brought Kiara’s marriage and motherhood into the discussion and questioned whether a married mother should appear in such scenes.

Yet Yash was part of the same sequence. He is also married and a father to a daughter. Still, much of the personal criticism was directed at Kiara.

Actress Huma Qureshi defended the women involved in the film, while Yash also addressed the negative reactions, saying some viewers had failed to see the scenes in their proper context.

Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee also questioned why marriage and motherhood should determine the kinds of roles a female performer is expected to accept.

Saif Ages Naturally, While Kareena Is Called ‘Old’

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have both spent decades in the film industry. Ageing has naturally brought changes to both their appearances.

Saif himself has spoken about how his body and lifestyle changed after turning 50. But Kareena has repeatedly faced comments about her age and appearance.

In 2022, after a yoga video of Kareena circulated online, some users focused on her wrinkles and appearance, with some even calling her ‘old’.

Kareena responded by questioning why being older should be treated as an insult. She pointed out that growing older also means gaining more life experience.

The contrast reflects a broader perception: grey hair and signs of ageing can be viewed as natural or even mature in male actors, while similar changes in female actors are more likely to attract criticism.

Alia Was Questioned About When She Became a Mother

Alia Bhatt married Ranbir Kapoor in 2022 and welcomed their daughter Raha later that year. At the time, Alia was also at an important stage of her acting career.

After her pregnancy was announced, she faced questions about why she had chosen to become a mother while her career was so busy. Some suggested that she had rushed into motherhood, while others predicted that it would hurt her career.

Alia later challenged those assumptions, questioning why having a child should necessarily change her professional life.

When reports suggested that pregnancy would force her to take a break from acting, she responded firmly: “I am a woman, not a parcel.”

Having a child was a joint decision between Alia and Ranbir, yet much of the public discussion focused on Alia’s career and the timing of her motherhood.

Why Is Anushka Blamed for Virat’s Struggles?

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have tried to keep their children away from the spotlight and have spoken about protecting their family’s privacy.

Even so, their family decisions have attracted online criticism. Some users have even attributed Virat’s decisions about spending time abroad to Anushka’s influence.

Anushka has also repeatedly been targeted during periods when Virat struggled on the cricket field. Some social media users have blamed her for his performances despite having no direct role in what happens on the cricket field.

Why the Different Standards?

The incidents are different, but a pattern can be seen across them. Sometimes the issue is appearance and ageing. Sometimes it is pregnancy, motherhood, professional choices or a husband’s career.

Again and again, however, the woman becomes the focus.

A female celebrity’s body can change after childbirth. Her appearance can naturally change with age. She can continue working after marriage and motherhood, and she can make professional choices independent of her family status.

Social media has brought celebrities closer to their audiences, but it has also blurred the boundaries between public interest and private life. For female stars, that intrusion often focuses particularly on their bodies, age, motherhood and personal choices.

These Bollywood examples therefore raise a broader question—not simply about celebrity trolling, but about whether society still applies different expectations to women and men in the public eye.