Big Comment/ Bhumi Pednekar breaks silence on objectification of women in films: We take it with a pinch of salt

Bhumi Pednekar recently shed light on several topics including gender inequality, the objectification of women in cinema, and the challenges women face when taking charge in a male-dominated society. The actress who was last seen in Thank You For Coming underlined the complexities and biases that persist within the entertainment industry and society at large.

Bhumi Pednekar on objectification of women

In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Bhumi Pednekar opened up about the pervasive issue of gender inequality. She highlighted the long-standing problem of women being objectified in films over the years and how society remains uncomfortable when women assert themselves. She expressed her views on the hypocrisy that allows films objectifying women to thrive at the box office while perpetuating the stigmatisation of women in real life.

The actress pointed out the stark contrast in how women are portrayed in cinema, often subject to physical and emotional abuse, and the resultant shame they must bear. Bhumi emphasised that society has tolerated these problematic portrayals by taking them lightly, showing the inherent bias that exists.

"That’s the hypocrisy of it all right. We have objectified women through generations. We have seen them being physically and emotionally assaulted in films. And yet, even in those films, the woman had to deal with all the shame. We have seen them call names and their body parts have been called like fruits and vegetables and I don’t know what not," she said.  

"And we’ve been accepting of that because we take it with a pinch of salt. But the moment the charge comes in a woman’s hand, it makes you uncomfortable and it will. Look, we were prepared for this. I knew this is going to happen," she added.

Bhumi Pednekar on acceptance of male-centric narratives

Bhumi Pednekar acknowledged that society readily accepts stories focusing on men and their issues. She used the example of her film Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, which addressed sexual disorders. She shared that the film was loved by the audience because it was centred around a male character's problem. Bhumi suggested that if the same issue was portrayed as a woman's problem, it might not have received the same level of acceptance.

She also spoke about the significance of male co-stars in bringing about change in the industry. She praised her male co-star, Ayushmann Khurrana, for his support in projects like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. She said that his involvement helped convey a message of change more effectively.