JOIN USWomen-oriented films and strong female characters may be the latest trend in Bollywood, but Bhumi Pednekar believes society still holds regressive views when it comes to a heroine.
Bhumi says, "Everywhere, including my extended family, people were very worried when they got to know that I am going to be an actor because there is a lot of negativity attached to a heroine."
"I feel in our culture, a girl with any sort of power is called difficult or something similiar just because she has a voice and the confidence to stand up for her rights. It is sad, but it is the truth of our country. Our culture hasn't evolved much and we need to do something about it."
The actor believes cinema for long has also failed women. "In terms of the treatment of a female actor onscreen, we have gone backwards and how. We had actors like Devika Rani initally but then things regressed. Women had nothing to do in films except praying for their husband's well-being."
After her successful debut with 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha', the actor says she rejected around 23 scripts as the female character had nothing to do in the proposed projects.
"Cinema has the power to change the society. Through my films, the kind of characters I have played and will play, I am trying to do my bit in changing the patriarchal mindset."