Kriti Sanon Says Female Actors Are Taken For Granted Made To Feel Less On Film Sets Bollywood Male Stars Gender Bias

Reflecting on her journey, Kriti said that of all the fields she has been a part of, including modelling, engineering college and the film industry, it is Bollywood where she has faced the greatest challenges. She recalled that when she began her career, the opportunities available to women were far more limited than they are today.

According to Kriti, many films at the time were centred around male protagonists, with female characters often written only as romantic interests. She said the industry has gradually evolved, with better-written roles for women now being created, but added that gender-based discrimination still exists in several ways.

Kriti then spoke about the different standards applied to male and female actors on film sets. She revealed that she is known for asking questions about her characters and scenes, but said that when a woman does so, she is often perceived as being difficult or asking too many questions.

She said, "When a female actor asks questions, it's like, 'Kitne sawal poochti hai yeh, arey 50 sawal shuru ho jaayenge (She asks so many questions. Here we go, she's about to start asking 50 questions).' I think there is a conversation like this. Versus, a male star asks questions, he's termed very involved. It has happened to me. When I asked the same questions, I was told, 'Don't overanalyse it.' But when it came from the guy, they were like, 'Okay, this can be done.'"

The actor also pointed to everyday examples of unequal treatment on film sets. She said that male actors are sometimes given better facilities, such as better rooms, although she clarified that material comforts are not what concern her the most.

She added, "Many times it's small things like the kind of car or room the male actor was given and the kind of room I am given. My point is I am not bothered even if I get a smaller room or car, but don't make me feel less. Even ADs have the tendency to call the girls first on set. They don't realise they are a little more scared of the male actors and sometimes take female actors for granted."

Kriti Sanon was most recently seen in Cocktail 2. Directed by Homi Adajania, the romantic comedy also starred Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. The film received mixed reviews from critics as well as audiences and collected around ₹137 crore worldwide at the box office. Kriti is yet to announce her next project.

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More