Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Millie Bobby Brown, the Stranger Things star, has had enough of the media’s relentless focus on her appearance. In a powerful Instagram post, she called out the toxic culture of body-shaming and unrealistic expectations placed on young women in the public eye. Her message was clear: growing up shouldn’t come with a side of public scrutiny and cruelty.
Starting her career at just 10 years old, Millie has spent over a decade in the spotlight. But instead of celebrating her growth, she says the media has always been fixated on her changing looks, criticising her for not staying the same as she was in Stranger Things Season 1. “People act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time,” she said. “But I’m not a character, I’m a person, and I’m growing up.”
She didn’t hold back, pointing to specific headlines like “Why Are Gen Zers Like Millie Bobby Brown Ageing So Badly?” and “What Has Millie Bobby Brown Done to Her Face?” as examples of the bullying she’s endured. “This isn’t journalism,” she said. “It’s disturbing. Writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices. It’s not okay.”
What stung even more, she noted, was seeing women contribute to this kind of coverage. “We talk about supporting young women, but when it comes down to it, it’s easier to tear them down for clicks,” she said. Millie made it clear she won’t apologise for growing up or changing. “I refuse to shrink myself to fit someone else’s unrealistic expectations,” she added.
The actress speaks out against body-shaming headlines and the pressure of growing up in the public eyeGetty Images
Her post struck a chord with fans and fellow celebrities alike, who flooded the comments with messages of support. Sarah Jessica Parker and Mckenna Grace were among those who praised her for speaking out. Millie’s message wasn’t just about her own experience rather it was a call to action for society to do better. “Let’s stop tearing young women apart for simply existing,” she urged.
Millie’s bold stance points out a larger issue: the pressure young women face to conform to impossible standards, especially in industries like Hollywood. By speaking up, she’s not just defending herself, but she’s standing up for every girl who’s ever felt judged for simply growing up. And that’s a message worth listening to.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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