Actor Ira Khan, daughter of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, has spoken candidly about her struggles with body image, admitting that discussing her weight felt more uncomfortable than opening up about depression.
In a recent video shared on Instagram, Ira addressed herself directly, calling attention to what she described as the “elephant in the room”. She said she has been struggling with obesity, body image and her relationship with food since 2020.
“Let’s address the elephant in the room: me. Yes, I’m fat, and I’m actually obese for my age and my height,” she said, adding that this conversation felt far more exposing than her earlier discussions on mental health.
‘More exposing than talking about depression’
Ira, who has previously spoken openly about living with depression, acknowledged that while mental health conversations have slowly gained acceptance, body image remains a deeply uncomfortable subject.
“I’m not as comfortable and confident talking about this as I was with my depression,” she said, admitting uncertainty about how the conversation would unfold.
She explained that her struggles with body image have affected multiple aspects of her life — from friendships and work to her relationship and self-worth. “It’s come in the way of how I show up in my relationships, my confidence, and my ability to participate in life,” she shared, drawing parallels with how depression had earlier disrupted her daily functioning.
Why body image is harder to discuss
Experts say Ira’s experience reflects a broader social reality. Gurleen Baruah, an existential analyst, told The Indian Express that body image exists in a more complex and judgment-heavy space than mental health.
“Depression and anxiety are slowly being recognised as illnesses. Body weight, however, is still treated as a visible moral failure, wrongly linked to discipline or willpower,” she explained. Obesity, she added, can be influenced by medical, genetic, hormonal and psychological factors, yet people continue to face stigma and blame.
Shrinking lives and silent struggles
Baruah noted that prolonged body image distress can quietly shrink a person’s world. People may avoid social events, feel unsafe being seen, and experience cycles of comfort eating followed by guilt and self-criticism. Over time, this impacts intimacy, confidence and overall wellbeing.
Call for empathy, not judgement
Ira clarified that her intention was not to seek validation but to better understand herself. She ended the video with honesty and caution, warning viewers about engaging with online comments.
Mental health professionals stress that healthier approaches to weight concerns require compassion — both from society and from individuals themselves. “Most people already know their risks. What they lack is safety, not information,” Baruah said, urging fewer moral judgements and more empathy.
Ira Khan’s openness has reignited conversations around body image, highlighting that while mental health dialogue has progressed, acceptance around weight and appearance still has a long way to go.