Sonam Kapoor opens up on Bollywood’s Sexism Problem

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja has been vocal in wanting equality for women within Bollywood.

She has again opened up on sexism and actresses not getting equal opportunities compared to their male co-stars.

The actress also said that certain aspects within films, like song lyrics, are written about women in a sexist way.

Sonam explained that there is a need for women to take a stance and to turn their back on such bias in the film industry.

She said: “There still exists this idea of working with the ‘big hero’ to succeed.

“And female actors need to be a certain way, dress a certain way, and talk in a certain way to ‘fit in’.

“You still have your teams reminding you to ‘fit the mould’. I’m fortunate that my team isn’t like that, but it happens all the time!

“Look at the way song lyrics or scripts are written about women… that needs to change.

“The way women are portrayed and talked about in the industry is not okay, and as women, we should not agree to work in those films because we are just harming ourselves.

“There is no price too high, especially considering all that has happened over this year.

“Each one of us needs to make better choices, or we will be subjected to a witch-hunt and we will be burnt at the stake!”

Sonam went on to say that women are targeted more than men and while she never experienced it, she said it was “traumatising” to see what her colleagues were going through.

“I wasn’t in the line of fire but it has been traumatising to see what my colleagues have been through, and the witch-hunt that has taken place.

“I feel scared, women are such soft targets. Nobody has ever spoken about a man in the way women are being spoken about right now.

“It’s almost like we have gone back several decades where, if you are a woman in the film or fashion industry, you are not thought of as an artist or a creative person.

“Instead, your moral character is questioned.”

Previously, Sonam addressed the pay gap issue. At the HT Youth Forum in Chandigarh, Sonam Kapoor said:

“I refuse to work with film producers who pay female actors less than males.”

“I was told, ‘You can afford to do so as you have a safety net. You come from a rich family’.

“I have been fending for myself since I was 18.

“It is hard for me also to say no to money but as someone who feels it is not morally right to get less paid than male stars, I don’t work for such producers.”

On the work front, Sonam is yet to announce her next project after her last two films, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and The Zoya Factor, both failed to do well at the box office.