Masaba Gupta on being compared to Om Puri because of her acne scars: How appearance-based criticism can affect mental health

Actor-designer Masaba Gupta has opened up about the hurtful comments she has faced throughout her life, such as being trolled for her skin and appearance. 

Recalling her mother Neena Gupta’s advice, she shared with journalist Faye D’Souza in an episode of her podcast that Neena categorically mentioned that acting wasn’t “on the cards” for Masaba as she didn’t fit the conventional beauty standards expected in the industry. 

“She said that the industry in India has always functioned a certain way, and there are certain faces people associate with that of an actor. She said, ‘You will always be considered a bit out of the box, too artsy, that probably get vamp roles, the seductress.’ She said if you want to be a mainstream Hindi film heroine, it won’t happen, so I should let it go,” Masaba told Faye. 

She revealed that she was once compared to veteran actor Om Puri because of her acne scars, after shooting a video and uploading it on Instagram without any filter. “It is a skin tint I am showing people, and if I put a filter, my face will look kind of blurred. Someone said, ‘But what are you doing with a makeup brand, you have skin like Om Puri.’ What business does anyone have to talk about anything except Om Puri’s acting talent?” she questioned. 

Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing, says, “Experiencing constant comparison or judgement based on societal beauty standards can have several long-term mental health effects. When individuals continuously measure themselves against often unrealistic beauty ideals, they may develop a range of negative psychological outcomes.”

Potential long-term mental health effects of experiencing constant judgement based on societal beauty standards

Baruah points out the following mental health effects:

Chronic low self-esteem: Constant comparison with societal standards can lead to persistent feelings of inadequacy. This can lower self-esteem over time, as individuals may start to believe that they don’t measure up to the ‘ideal.’ 

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD): Repeated exposure to judgement and comparison can cause some individuals to develop an unhealthy preoccupation with perceived flaws in their appearance, potentially leading to Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Fear of judgement based on appearance can cause individuals to withdraw from social interactions, potentially leading to social isolation. (Source: Freepik)

Depression and anxiety: Persistent judgement based on appearance can contribute to chronic stress, leading to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Individuals may experience feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and social withdrawal, fearing further criticism.

Eating disorders: Societal beauty standards often promote specific body types as ‘ideal,’ which can lead to unhealthy eating behaviours. Individuals may resort to restrictive dieting, binge eating, or purging in an attempt to conform to these standards. 

Social withdrawal and isolation: Fear of judgement based on appearance can cause individuals to withdraw from social interactions, potentially leading to social isolation. 

How can individuals build resilience and self-worth in the face of external criticism

Here are some ways individuals can strengthen their resilience and foster a healthier sense of self-worth, according to Baruah:

*Practice self-compassion: Instead of being self-critical when facing negative comments about appearance, individuals can practice self-forgiveness and remind themselves that no one is perfect. 

*Challenge negative self-talk: Often, external criticism is internalised, leading to negative self-talk. It’s important to identify these self-defeating thoughts and actively challenge them. 

*Set personal values and priorities: Recognising that self-worth is multi-dimensional can help shift focus from external appearance to internal qualities. Identifying and prioritise personal values such as kindness, creativity, or resilience.

*Limit social media exposure: Taking breaks from social media, curating a feed with body-positive content, or following accounts that promote diverse representations of beauty can help reduce the impact of societal beauty ideals on self-worth.

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