"It's a patriarchal sort of vibe."
Tamannaah Bhatia has opened up about significant differences between the Hindi and South Indian film industries recently.
The actress said that female actors in the South often face more rigid expectations regarding glamour and performance.
Reflecting on her two-decade-long career spanning both industries, Bhatia shared her nuanced perspective on these differences.
She acknowledged why some people describe the South industry’s gaze as “patriarchal” and not always complimentary towards women.
In an interview, the 36-year-old actor discussed the fundamental differences between Hindi cinema and South.
She explained that while the Hindi film industry allows actors to choose between roles, South cinema demands both.
“In the Hindi film industry, there are two kinds of actors.
“Those who have a little more artistic take on things, are better off playing certain kinds of characters.
“They might not certainly doa glamorous song and dance.
“The Hindi film industry actually gives you the opportunity to do either/or, and the ones who do both inevitably become superstars.”
On the other hand, for South cinema, Tamannaah found the gaze particularly problematic and restrictive overall.
“When I entered the South industry, I understood why people might call it many names.”
“Like it’s a very specific gaze. It’s a patriarchal sort of vibe or it’s a gaze that’s not very complimentary.”
Tamannaah explained that commercial South cinema places significant emphasis on an actor’s diverse skill set and presence.
Female actors need to command both performance-oriented roles and glamorous song-and-dance numbers to sustain longevity.
According to her, those who have enjoyed long careers in the industry have successfully balanced both aspects.
“The south needed to have that star quality to be able to pull that off, so I personally feel like that cinema is as or more restrictive in that sense.
“I am talking about when you sort of want to make it from a commercial standpoint.”
Tamannaah also defended dance numbers, preferring to view them as “party songs” rather than “item songs.”
Citing examples such as Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, she said songs often outlive their films.
These performances can become cultural phenomena that transcend the original film’s success or failure at box office.
She said how songs like ‘Chammak Challo’ and ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’ have done exceptionally well commercially.
Those songs achieved cultural relevance despite their respective films not performing well at the box office.
The distinction she drew highlights how dance sequences have independent value as entertainment and cultural moments.
Her perspective challenges the notion that such sequences are purely exploitative or secondary to serious dramatic content.
On the work front, Tamannaah Bhatia was last seen in Odela 2, the sequel to Odela Railway Station.
That film marked her return to Telugu cinema with another project in the same franchise.
She is set to appear next in Vvan, in which she stars opposite Sidharth Malhotra prominently.
The film is scheduled for release in 2026, marking her return to Hindi cinema with a major project.
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