Kriti Sanon calls out gender bias in Bollywood: "Making me feel smaller because I’m a woman"

Kriti Sanon calls out gender bias in Bollywood

Actress Kriti Sanon who has carved her own space in Bollywood since her debut in Heropanti (2014), has openly spoken out about gender bias in the industry, and her remarks are already starting to  stir up conversations.

In a recent interview with NDTV, Kriti spoke on how her upbringing shaped her outlook. She grew up in a household where both her parents worked and divided responsibilities equally. "My mom grew up in a time when boys were allowed a lot of things that girls were not. Girls were supposed to stay at home, cook, and follow rules. She wanted to learn swimming or dancing, but couldn't. The only thing she fought for was studying, and she became a professor."

“My mom always told me and my sister, ‘Do whatever you want, whatever you dream of — go for it.’ That came from her,” Kriti explained.

But Bollywood, she admitted, hasn’t always matched those values. The actress pointed to subtle but very real inequalities on sets. "It hasn't happened too many times, but little things like the male actor getting a better car or a better room... It's not about the car, but about not making me feel smaller because I'm a woman. Just make it equal. Sometimes, even ADs have a habit of calling the female actor first and waiting for the male actor later. I've had to tell them not to do that. The mindset needs to change"

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Her comments echo a sentiment many actresses have quietly shared, though not everyone has said it as plainly. Kriti’s honesty is likely to resonate with fans who admire her both for her talent and her candor.

On the work front, she’s keeping busy. Kriti will next be seen opposite Dhanush in Tere Ishk Mein, set for a November 28, 2025 release. She’s also lined up Cocktail 2 with Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, Don 3 alongside Ranveer Singh, and possibly a cameo in Bhediya 2.