Kriti Sanon has opened up about the gender bias she has witnessed in Bollywood, saying that female actors are often treated differently from their male co-stars on film sets. In a conversation with Lily
Singh on her YouTube channel, Kriti spoke about navigating the industry as an outsider and said that women are frequently judged more harshly for the same behaviour that is praised in men.
The actress said that while the industry has changed over the years and better parts are now being written for women, certain old patterns still continue to exist. According to Kriti, female actors are sometimes taken for granted, while assistant directors and crew members tend to be more intimidated by male stars.
Kriti Sanon Says Female Actors Are Judged For Asking Questions
Reflecting on her journey, Kriti said that among all the spaces she has been part of, including modelling, engineering college and films, Bollywood has been the most challenging. She recalled that when she started out, opportunities for women were far more restricted, with many films built entirely around male protagonists.
Kriti said female characters were often written as romantic interests, while the men usually drove the story. Although she believes things have improved with time, the actress added that gender bias still shows up in everyday ways.
She then spoke about how male and female actors are perceived differently when they ask questions on set. Kriti said she is someone who likes to understand her scenes and characters in detail, but when a female actor asks questions, she is often labelled as someone who overthinks or complicates things.
“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,’” Kriti said.
Kriti Sanon On Unequal Treatment On Film Sets
Kriti also pointed out that unequal treatment on set is not always loud or obvious. At times, she said, it appears in smaller things, such as the kind of car or room given to a male actor compared to what a female actor receives.
However, Kriti clarified that her concern is not about luxury or material comfort. She said the larger issue is being made to feel lesser.
“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,” she added.
Kriti’s remarks add to the ongoing conversation around gender dynamics in the film industry, especially around how women are expected to behave on set and how similar actions are interpreted differently depending on whether they come from a male or female actor.
Kriti Sanon’s Recent Release
On the work front, 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 and audiences, and collected around Rs 137 crore worldwide at the box office. Kriti is yet to officially announce her next project.
