Fashion cycles play a role. The current trend in South Indian fashion for heroines (both on and off screen) is high-waisted lehengas and low-rise jeans paired with crop tops. These garments inevitably create visible lines if traditional underwear is worn.

: Some actresses have shared experiences of being asked to wear specific undergarments, such as padded bras , during song shoots to enhance their appearance, sometimes leading to visible differences that make performers feel self-conscious under the crew's gaze.

Ananya felt the heavy weight of hundreds of eyes on set. She knew exactly what was being captured, but the pressure to be "professional" and not cause delays kept her silent. 📱 The Digital Aftermath

For decades, traditional fashion advice has labeled visible innerwear as a major "faux pas". Designers often pushed for seamless solutions—like G-strings or special "vanish" collections—to maintain a perfectly smooth silhouette. But as actresses like Taapsee Pannu Radhika Apte

South Indian actresses often wear heavy silk sarees or tight lehengas for song sequences and dramatic scenes. Costume designers prioritize aesthetics over comfort, using synthetic fabrics that cling. When a panty line shows, it breaks the illusion of the “flawless” woman—a reminder that she has a body with underwear, not a mannequin. The outrage isn’t about fashion; it’s about the demand that female celebrities appear simultaneously sensual and sexless.