Kartik Aaryan slammed for displaying fake abs in commercial
What's the story
Kartik Aaryan, who isn't new to controversies, has landed himself in trouble yet again. This time, he is being brutally trolled on social media for having featured in a commercial for a popular hair-removal brand. Kartik and the ad makers have been accused of using Photoshop (picture editing software) to show fake abs, and also promoting toxic masculinity. Here's why.
Details
Kartik plays a double-role to bring us a problematic commercial
The commercial in question, titled Hairy Calling Harry, is for Veet Men hair removal cream. In the 25-second-long clip, Kartik is seen playing a double role. While as Hairy, he dons a full-sleeve t-shirt and is insecure about his body hair, Harry, on the other hand, has zero problems in dating women. Toward the end of the commercial, Kartik 'proudly' utters, "Find Your Sexy".
The problem
The commercial is downright misleading and stereotypical
It doesn't take you a long time before you can spot that the makers have used special effects to showcase that Harry sports cool fake abs, which seemingly makes him popular among girls.
Hence, not only is the commercial misleading, it also resorts to shamefully promoting stereotyping and to some extent, toxic masculinity, by tagging hairless men as "sexy" and being hairy as "ganda".
Details
The ad was recently called out by 'Diet Sabya'
Although the said commercial released a month back, it is now doing the rounds on social media after a popular Instagram account Diet Sabya called out the cosmetic brand and Kartik for misleading the audiences and supporting toxic masculinity. Notably, Diet Sabya is known for exposing fake designs in the world of fashion and criticizing celebrities for promoting problematic narratives.
Instagram Post
This is the ad we are talking about
Reactions
'And the worst photoshop award goes to': Instagram users react
The commercial is now being widely slammed on social media. "What's that? He has abs bare bodied and tummy in that tee," wrote a user. Another penned, "Bollywood should now start having Best Body VFX award." "They just used some pavs [buns] and made them abs," wrote another. "This ad is wrong on so many level (sic)," opined another user.
Work
On the work front for Kartik
Separately, on the work front, Kartik-starrer Pati Patni Aur Woh, that released on Friday, is enjoying a strong run at the box office. However, it has received poor to mixed reviews from critics. Kartik will next be seen in Imtiaz Ali's upcoming untitled film, opposite Sara Ali Khan; horror comedy movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and Dharma production Dostana 2, also featuring Janhvi Kapoor.