No one can deny that our film industry is obsessed with unrealistic beauty standards. Not only do celebrities follow these unhealthy beauty standards, but they also promote them to the masses. How could we forget Kareena Kapoor promoting zero figures in her movie Tashan?
From unhealthy promotion to zero figure to shameless fat-jokes and body shaming, our movies promote a problematic toxic ideology that states: to be beautiful, one needs to be “skinny.”
And, sadly, many young girls struggle hard to align themselves to such unrealistic standards. Recently, during one such incident, Kannada television actress Chethana Raj passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru, where she was admitted on for ‘fat-free’ plastic surgery.
As per the sources, Chethana visited the Shetty’s Cosmetic Centre with her friends. She did not even inform her parents about the surgery. On May 16, she decided to get ‘fat-free’ plastic surgery, which did not go as planned. During surgery, the actress developed complications as fluid began to accumulate in her lungs.
Anaesthetist Melvin, along with the doctors who performed the plastic surgery, brought Chethana to Kaade Hospital at 5.30 pm and threatened the doctors to treat her as a person who had suffered a cardiac arrest. At Kaade Hospital, doctors initiated CPR. But, even after trying for 45 minutes, doctors could not revive Chethana.
ICU intensivist Dr Sandeep, in his complaint to the inspector of Basaveshwaranagar Police Station, had mentioned that Chethana was declared dead at 6.45 pm. He also mentioned that the doctors at Shetty’s Cosmetic Centre were aware that Chethana had already passed away.
As per sources, Chethna parents have accused the doctors of negligence and have lodged a complaint. Chethana Raj was known for her roles in daily soaps such as Geetha and Doresani. We will pray for Chethna’s parents and hope they will get justice soon.
It is heartbreaking how there are so many young women and men, who have become the victim of unrealistic beauty standards promoted by our movies and society. It is high time that we, as a society, starts taking accountability to stop these regressive beauty standards and punish those, who promote them – be it actors, movies or unauthentic influencers. Do let us know what you think in the comments below.