‘Don’t Make Me Feel Less’: Kriti Sanon opens up on gender bias in bollywood, Reveals the double standards she faced

Mumbai: Kriti Sanon has spoken openly about the gender bias she has experienced in Bollywood, saying that female actors are often judged differently from their male counterparts despite putting in the same level of effort and dedication.

In a candid conversation with content creator Lily Singh on her YouTube channel, the actress reflected on her journey as an outsider in the film industry and highlighted how subtle yet persistent biases continue to exist on film sets.

‘Women are often taken for granted’

While acknowledging that Bollywood has made significant progress by creating stronger and more nuanced roles for women, Kriti Sanon believes that gender-based discrimination still influences everyday interactions behind the scenes.

According to the actress, assistant directors and crew members often behave more cautiously around male stars, while female actors are expected to be more accommodating.

She explained that these differences are not always obvious but become apparent in the way women are treated during the filmmaking process.

‘The same questions are judged differently’

Sharing one of the most common examples of this bias, Kriti said that when female actors ask questions to better understand a scene or character, they are often labelled as difficult or accused of overthinking.

Recalling her own experience, she said that she has been told not to “overanalyse” situations, whereas similar questions from male actors were viewed as a sign of commitment and professionalism.”When a female actor asks questions, people say, ‘She asks so many questions.’ But when a male actor asks the same things, he is called very involved. I’ve experienced that myself,” Kriti shared.

She added that such double standards can discourage actresses from expressing their creative opinions openly.

Respect matters more than luxury

Kriti also pointed out that gender bias extends beyond creative discussions and is sometimes reflected in the facilities provided to actors on set.

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She clarified that the issue is not about receiving bigger vanity vans, luxury cars or larger rooms, but about being treated with equal respect.

According to the actress, there have been occasions when male actors were given preferential treatment, while female actors were expected to adjust without complaint.”I’m not bothered if I get a smaller room or car. Just don’t make me feel less,” she said.

She further observed that assistant directors often tend to call female actors to the set first while being more hesitant to inconvenience male stars, suggesting that women are frequently taken for granted.

Industry evolving, but challenges remain

Despite her experiences, Kriti Sanon acknowledged that the Hindi film industry has evolved considerably over the years. She noted that women today have access to stronger characters and more meaningful stories than ever before.

However, she believes true equality will only be achieved when actresses receive the same respect, trust and professional treatment as their male colleagues both on and off the camera.

Kriti’s remarks have reignited conversations around workplace equality in Bollywood, with many fans appreciating her for speaking honestly about the subtle forms of gender bias that continue to exist in the industry.