With great power comes great responsibility, and with great stardom comes heavy trolling. Being a celebrity is tough; it might look like it’s all glamour, fame, and money, but the truth is far from it. Just ask Ayesha Takia. The former actress might not live in the limelight anymore, yet she is subject to constant trolling. Why? Because she chose to get cosmetic surgery to feel good about herself.

Recently, Ayesha Takia uploaded a video of her in a blue kanjeevaram saree on Instagram, and the trolls were quick to flock to her comment section. People’s “criticism” of her looks went so far that she deleted her account. Though Takia is back in the digital world now, the whole incident leaves you with a sour taste. It’s her money, her face, her choice, but the good people on the internet are the ones with an issue. 

Women always bear the brunt

Being a celebrity was never easy, but now it’s just Herculean, all thanks to the social media age we live in. Much of their life is out there for strangers to judge, comment and blatantly call unworthy. If you are a celebrity, we can hope you have skin thicker than the African elephant because people on the internet will poke holes and prod you until you succumb to the wounds.

Though trolling is a huge issue, a major problem begins when hypocrisy shines through our demands. We are all good with plastic surgery, but only as long as the results please us. Otherwise, we are quick to jump on the “keep it real” bandwagon.

While both male and female actors face backlash over a poorly done lip job, nose job or any cosmetic procedure, female actors always get the harsher end of the deal, especially if they are older.

When Shahid Kapoor does it, it’s “fixing the flaws,” but when Ayesha Takia does it, it’s “ruining the face”. This trolling of female celebrities over their choice of undergoing plastic surgery goes deeper than wanting them to be authentic. It’s a deep-rooted issue of misogyny and ageism in our society. 

Policing women’s bodies

Women’s bodies have always been under scrutiny, with society telling us how to look, behave and even age. Trolling women for undergoing plastic surgery is an extension of that. Everything has to be natural and graceful but only in a way they like otherwise, you’ll be shamed for being “too desperate” or “trying too hard”.

Women really can’t win when it comes to beauty standards, and it gets worse with age. As an older woman, if you decide to change how you look, everything you have achieved so far turns to ashes, and what remains is your appearance. If you embrace age the way it comes, you’re “looking your age,” and God forbid you choose to go under the knife to not look your age. You are trolled for being desperate and fake, and this kind of scrutiny is reserved only for women.

Male actors can rock their greys or remove their wrinkles (yes, I am talking about Aamir Khan); they’ll always be rugged, and we will always gush over them. An older man is de-aged, and a younger woman is aged, just look at Bollywood and you’ll know.

When a 50-year-old actor is romancing a woman more than half his age, a 24-year-old actress plays mother to a 38-year-old actor. Remember Richa Chadda in Gangs of Wasseypur or Shefali Shah in Waqt: The Race Against Time? While Richa, a 24-year-old, played mother to a 38-year-old, Shefali Shah played a mother to Akshay Kumar, who is a decade older than her.

Old is only gold if you are a man. 

Related: Let’s Reverse The Age Gap In Bollywood: 7 Pairings We Want To See On Screen ASAP

What happens when misogyny and ageism collide?

When we combine misogyny with ageism, the dish served is poison, and you have to sip it whether you choose plastic surgery or not. Trolling women for plastic surgery is less about appearance and more about taking autonomy away from a woman.

It’s about basing a woman’s worth on how she looks rather than who she is. It’s a reminder to women that no matter what they do, they ultimately have to fit into a framework designed for them. Shrink or expand or do both; it doesn’t matter. Just fit in the box the way society likes.

Trolling celebrities for plastic surgery isn’t just idling away time; it’s a real deal and reflects the monumental issues of our society. Accepting people’s choices and being kinder to them makes everybody’s life easier and more fabulous. Imagine looking however you want without a random Chintu from Chandigarh getting snarky. That sounds amazing, right? Let’s get there!

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Related: Here’s Why Aunty Eve Thinks Getting Cosmetic Surgeries Is A Good Idea