Shweta Basu Prasad recalls facing height bullying on set of Telugu film

Actress Shweta Basu Prasad, known for her work across multiple languages including Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, has opened up on a negative experience she faced on a film set. The actress stated that the one and only time in her career when she was bullied for her physical appearance—specifically her height.
According to Shweta, the incident occurred while working on a Telugu film where she was repeatedly mocked for being shorter than her co-star. The actress shared that her male co-actor, who was much taller or close to 6 feet, was constantly the source of the bullying. “The entire crew would remind me of my height every single day. It became an uncomfortable situation for me on that set,” Shweta admitted.
Shweta highlighted the irony of the situation, revealing how the male lead, despite his shortcomings in another area, was never called out. “He would mess up every scene, give retakes and struggle with the Telugu language. Ironically, despite him being Telugu, he couldn’t speak the language properly. But I was managing with my limited understanding of the language, yet no one ever criticised him for that. Instead, I was constantly ridiculed for something that was entirely out of my control—my height,” she said. The actress further emphasised the unfairness of the situation, pointing out that her co-actor’s language issues were overlooked, while she was criticized for something she couldn’t change. “It was something that was genetically inherited and yet, I was being judged for it. It was the only set where I truly felt bullied, and it was very bad,” she confessed.
While Shweta did not name the film in question, she has had a successful career in the Telugu film industry, debuting in 2008 with Kotha Bangaru Lokam. She went on to act in a variety of Telugu films, including Ride, Kasko, Kalavar King, Priyudu and Genius. Her most recent Telugu film was Vijeta in 2016. Shweta’s career also spans across the Hindi and Tamil film industries, where she has garnered praise for her performances. Shweta’s candid revelation sheds light on the difficulties that many actors face in the industry, particularly regarding issues of appearance and body image. Her story serves as a reminder of the impact such on-set bullying can have on mental and emotional well-being and it underscores the importance of fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone in the industry.