Changing Room

In India, where cultural norms place an outsized importance on appearance, societal expectations around body image can be oppressive, especially for young people. Children are often conditioned to believe that their value is tied to how they look, and any deviation from the ideal; whether too fat, too thin, too short, or too tall; is met with criticism. And what makes it even more painful is that these aggressions often come from those closest to us, our own families. The remarks are normalised, frequently masked as “concern” for well-being or appearance, or dismissed as “harmless teasing” that should be taken sportingly. But, internally they perpetuate a cycle of insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional scars.
Changing Room is a deeply personal exploration of self-acceptance, mirroring my own journey with body image and self-esteem set against the emotionally rich backdrop of Indian society. This story follows Pratik, a 12 year old overweight young boy whose experiences with societal labels and isolation reflect my own struggles.