Actor Sameera Reddy has revealed the emotional toll that postpartum depression and body-shaming took on her after the birth of her first child. In a recent interview with Zoom, Sameera candidly spoke about the “rough time” she went through when her weight ballooned to 105 kilograms.

The actor, who is known for films like Race and No Entry, explained that the weight gain was a result of being “pumped with hormones” after giving birth. She said the public scrutiny and negative comments deeply affected her, especially during an already vulnerable time.

“I remember being mad, depressed,” she said. “I always say the bhajiwala (vegetable vendor) also did not spare me. Nobody will understand at that moment what you are going through. So I am not going to lie and say it didn’t hurt me.”

A Postpartum Battle

Sameera, who is married to entrepreneur Akshai Varde, welcomed her son Hans in 2015 and daughter Nyra in 2019. In a 2022 Instagram post, she had shared details of her struggle with postpartum depression (PPD).

“I was a complete wreck after my firstborn. PPD hit me like a brick. I lost control of my body and my self-worth,” she wrote. She added that it also took a toll on her marriage, but the support of her husband, in-laws, and family helped her through it.

A Return to the Big Screen

Sameera took a break from acting after her marriage. Her last film was Tezz in 2012, but she is now set to make a comeback with the horror-thriller film Chimni, which is scheduled for a 2025 release.