Films That Broke Societal Beauty Standards

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Real Women Have Curves (2002)

This Latina directed film that marked America Ferrera's film debut gives a voice to young women struggling to find themselves and carries a powerful message about body positivity that was especially important for its time.

Helter Skelter (2012)

This visually stunning Japanese horror film from photographer-cum-director Mika Ninagawa follows a top model who undergoes multiple cosmetic surgeries to maintain her perfect image and is a haunting portrait that explores the dark side of societal standards.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)

Bhumi Pednekar's debut received popular support for its depiction of a love story between an overweight woman and a character played by Ayushmann Khurrana, showing us that self love comes with no size tags.

Zero (2018)

Despite being a box office failure, this Shah Rukh Khan film soon became a cult favourite for his portrayal of a man with dwarfism who falls in love with a scientist with cerebral palsy (Anushka Sharma), showing us that love has no physical boundaries.

The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

This modern retelling of Huckleberry Finn, starring Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, was the highest grossing independent film of 2019 and follows Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, who escapes a care facility to chase his wrestling dreams- celebrating friendship and courage that shines beyond his disability.

Tall Girl (2019)

This Netflix original film challenges the norm of height differences in relationships with its central character towering over her love interest, on her journey of self-acceptance about standing out (quite literally) from her peers in high school.

Bala (2019)

This black comedy helmed by Ayushmann Khurrana addresses societal treatment of premature baldness and colourism , reiterating the message that beauty is only skin (or hair)- deep.

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