Bipasha Basu has opened up about how ideas around women’s fitness, body image and beauty have evolved in Bollywood over the years. The actor reflected on a time when female stars were often expected to fit a certain conventional image and said that her athletic physique made her stand out in the industry.
Her comments about muscular women come shortly after fashion designer Masaba Gupta praised Bipasha’s athletic build and came out in support of the actor following her recent magazine cover appearance.
Bipasha Basu recalls being different from the conventional Bollywood image
Looking back at the early phase of her career, Bipasha spoke about how Bollywood had a very specific idea of what a leading actress was expected to look like. Petite frames, delicate features and conventional beauty standards were often considered the norm.
With her tall frame, toned body and dusky complexion, Bipasha brought a different image to the screen. The actor said that women with visible muscle tone and athletic bodies were not widely accepted as actresses at the time.
Speaking about the changing perception of women’s fitness, Bipasha said, “I don’t think women with more muscle tone were very acceptable as actresses. But I think I started the trend.”
Bipasha on why fitness is about more than appearance
Bipasha has been closely associated with fitness throughout her career and was among the early Bollywood celebrities to actively promote exercise and a healthy lifestyle. However, for the actor, fitness has never been only about achieving a particular body type.
She explained that her message has always been centred around self-love and good health. While looking good can be a result of working out, Bipasha believes that feeling strong and healthy from within is far more important.
The actor also reflected on how the growing interest in fitness encouraged more women to exercise and pay greater attention to their health. At the same time, she questioned whether everyone was working out for their well-being or simply to achieve a certain physical appearance.
Bipasha Basu on embracing age and growing older
Apart from fitness and body image, Bipasha also shared her views on ageing. The actor said she does not believe in putting pressure on herself to look younger than her actual age and feels more comfortable with who she is today than she did in her twenties.
For Bipasha, growing older has brought greater confidence and self-acceptance. She believes that ageing should not be seen as something negative and that people should be free to make their own choices without being judged.
Masaba Gupta praises Bipasha Basu’s athletic build
Bipasha’s recent comments come days after fashion designer Masaba Gupta publicly praised the actor and her muscular physique.
After Bipasha featured on the cover of a magazine, Masaba shared the cover on her Instagram Stories and expressed her admiration for the actor’s fitness and athletic build.
Tagging Bipasha, Masaba wrote, “@bipashabasu I love your athletic build. I love the muscle, and I want more thanks to the standard of fitness you set. Too bad if someone doesn’t see it as feminine. This is so great.”
Masaba’s post received attention online, especially because of the ongoing conversation around Bipasha’s physique and the idea of femininity. While she did not directly mention anyone in her post, several social media users connected her comments to the recent controversy involving Mrunal Thakur.
The Mrunal Thakur controversy and the conversation around body image
The discussion around Bipasha’s muscular physique gained renewed attention after an old video featuring Mrunal Thakur resurfaced on social media.
In the clip, from Mrunal’s television days, the actor was seen speaking to her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit Taneja about the kind of physique one might prefer in a partner. During the conversation, Mrunal referred to Bipasha while sharing her views on the subject.
“Do you want to marry a girl who is manly with muscles? Go marry Bipasha. Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, ok,” Mrunal was heard saying in the old video.
The clip quickly went viral and drew considerable backlash on social media. Many users criticised the remark and called it insensitive, leading to a wider discussion about body image, femininity and the way women are judged based on their appearance.
Following the criticism, Mrunal addressed the controversy on social media and apologised for her old remarks.
While Masaba did not mention Mrunal by name in her Instagram post, many social media users felt that her comments about Bipasha’s muscles and femininity were connected to the criticism surrounding the resurfaced video.
A changing idea of beauty and strength
Interestingly, Bipasha’s recent comments add another perspective to the entire conversation. The actor entered Bollywood at a time when muscular and athletic women were not widely seen as fitting the conventional image of a leading actress.
Over the years, however, perceptions around women’s fitness have changed significantly. Strength training, athletic bodies and muscular physiques are now increasingly embraced, both in Bollywood and beyond.
From challenging traditional beauty standards to encouraging women to embrace their strength, Bipasha Basu has always carved her own path. Her journey continues to highlight a powerful message — fitness is not about fitting into a particular beauty standard and femininity does not have just one definition.
