Harry Potter’s Padma Patil is a Sudden Hit – But She’s Not Amused

The internet went crazy over the weekend when grown-up pictures of ‘Harry Potter’ star Padma Patil surfaced.

Afshan Azad, then and now: In the character of Padma Patil, L (Photo Courtesy: harrypotter.wikia.com) and from her current Instagram feed, R (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)

Is there no end to the Internet’s ‘discovery’ of seemingly ‘plain-looking’ child stars who have now turned into ‘beautiful swans’? Or some such thing?

British model and actress Afshan Azad – popular for playing Ravenclaw Padma Patil – in the blockbuster Harry Potter movie series – out of nowhere broke the internet on Friday. This was how it happened.

A Buzzfeed article on Friday went absolutely viral the moment it was published, screaming to whoever might listen that the teenager who first starred in the movies a decade ago, has now – gasp! – grown up. She apparently no longer looks the way she used to (another shocker) – which means, she’s older and looks different than when she played Parvati Patil’s twin in the Harry Potter series.

Screenshot of the Buzzfeed article.

What’s All the Fuss About?

Afshan herself, however, was less than amused.

Flattered though the actress – now 27 years old – admitted to be, she simply couldn’t fathom what the fuss was about. In one tweet, she even expressed bewilderment over making news for her ‘makeover’ when she didn’t think she had been ‘ugly’ to begin with!

Of ‘Patiling’ and ‘Longbottoming’ Woes

Buzzfeed even went a step further to coin two rather interesting terms – though the jury’s still scratching its head on what it meant – ‘Patiling’ and ‘Longbottoming’. A none-too-subtle reference to the fact that both Matthew Lewis, who played the reticent Neville Longbottom and Afshan Azad, who played Padma Patil, have ‘transformed’ miraculously!

We see what you did there, Buzzfeed.

What we simply don’t understand is why it’s such a mystery for a 16-year-old to post pictures of her 27-year-old self without inviting queries of plastic surgery and ‘going under the knife’.

Padma didn’t either.

While Padma – oops, Afshan – has dished out to tabloids a valuable lesson on how to let one be, we’ve loved her through and through – right from the time she ditched a disgruntled, grumpy Ron at the Yule Ball to her current ravishing, pouting self.

Probably more back then. Weasley was asking for it.

Youtube screengrab of Padma Patil – rightly – dumping Ron Weasley at the Yule Ball.

Take a look at some of Afshan’s recent photographs which have become all the rage lately!

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)

Our favourite though? THIS one, in all her effervescent self.

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Afshan Azad)