Kriti Sanon calls out gender bias in film industry: ‘Don’t mind if I get a small room or a car, but don’t make me less’ |

Kriti Sanon has been outspoken about the gender bias she has experienced in the Hindi film industry, saying that women are often viewed differently from their men, even when they show an equal level of involvement in their work. In an interview with Lily Singh on her YouTube channel, the actor revealed his journey as a guest and shared how female actors are judged too harshly for the performances that are often praised in male stars.Kriti admitted that Bollywood has changed over the years, and strong and complex roles are now being written for women. However, he believes that deeper interests continue to exist on film sets. According to him, female actors are often taken for granted, while assistant directors and crew are treated with care and respect among male stars.Looking back on her career, Kriti said that the film industry has been the hardest she has ever worked in, compared to modeling and engineering college. She recalled that when she entered Bollywood, opportunities for women were limited, with many popular films featuring male leads and female leads.While she feels that things have changed a lot, Kriti said subtle ways of gender bias continue to surface in everyday conversations.He also talked about how interest and affect are interpreted differently depending on the gender of the actor. Kriti, who likes to understand her point of view and character, said that she is often dismissed for asking too many questions, while male actors are praised for doing the same.“When a woman asks questions, it’s like, ‘Kitne sawal poochti hai yeh, arey 50 sawal shuru ho jaayenge (She asks a lot of questions. Here we go, she’s about to start asking 50 questions).’ I think there is a discussion like this. In contrast, the male star asks questions, they are called very sensitive. It has happened to me. When I asked the same questions, he told me, ‘Don’t overanalyze.’ But when it came from the guy, he was like, ‘Okay, this can happen,'” Kriti said.Kriti Sanon went on to explain that gender bias on film sets is often hidden rather than overt. According to the actors, the difference in treatment can sometimes be seen in everyday settings, such as the rooms or cars allocated to male and female actors.He emphasized that it is not about getting a better place, but about being treated with equal respect. Kriti said that it is disappointing when such differences make female actors feel more important than their male counterparts.“Most of the time it’s small things like the type of car or the room that the male artist was given and the type of room that I was given. My point is I’m not bothered even if I get a small room or car, but don’t make me too small. Even ADs have a habit of calling the girls first.Her comments contribute to a larger discussion about gender inequality in the film industry, showing how women continue to face different expectations and support from institutions, even as the industry changes. Kriti also pointed out that this bias is often embedded in routines, where the same performances of male and female actors are viewed differently.On the work front, Kriti was recently seen in ‘Cocktail 2’.