Kriti Sanon calls out the gender bias in the film industry: 'Not bothered even if I get a smaller room or car, but don’t make me feel less'

Kriti Sanon has spoken candidly about the gender bias she has experienced in the Hindi film industry, saying that women are often viewed differently than their male counterparts, even when they display the same level of involvement in their work. During a conversation with Lily Singh on her YouTube channel, the actor reflected on her journey as an outsider and shared how female actors are judged more critically for behaviour that is often appreciated in male stars.Kriti acknowledged that Bollywood has evolved over the years, with stronger and more layered roles now being written for women. However, she believes some deep-rooted biases still persist on film sets. According to her, female actors are frequently taken for granted, while assistant directors and crew members tend to be more cautious and respectful around male stars.Looking back at her career, Kriti said the film industry has been the toughest environment she has worked in, compared to modelling and engineering college. She recalled that when she entered Bollywood, opportunities for women were far more limited, with most mainstream films revolving around male leads and female characters largely confined to romantic roles.While she feels the situation has improved significantly, Kriti said subtle forms of gender bias continue to surface in day-to-day interactions on set.She pointed to the way curiosity and involvement are interpreted differently depending on an actor's gender. Kriti, who likes to fully understand her scenes and characters, said she has often been dismissed for asking too many questions, whereas male actors are praised for doing the same.“When a female actor asks questions, it’s like, ‘Kitne sawal poochti hai yeh, arey 50 sawal shuru ho jaayenge (She asks so many questions. Here we go, she’s about to start asking 50 questions).’ I think there is a conversation like this. Versus, a male star asks questions, he’s termed very involved. It has happened to me. When I asked the same questions, I was told, ‘Don’t overanalyse it.’ But when it came from the guy, they were like, ‘Okay, this can be done,’" Kriti said.Kriti Sanon went on to explain that gender bias on film sets is often subtle rather than overt. According to the actor, the difference in treatment can sometimes be reflected in everyday arrangements, such as the rooms or vehicles assigned to male and female actors.She stressed that the issue is not about receiving better facilities, but about being treated with equal respect. Kriti said it is disheartening when such differences make female actors feel valued less than their male counterparts.“Many times it’s small things like the kind of car or room the male actor was given and the kind of room I am given. My point is I am not bothered even if I get a smaller room or car, but don’t make me feel less. Even ADs have the tendency to call the girls first on set. They don’t realise they are a little more scared of the male actors and sometimes take female actors for granted," she added.Her comments contribute to the larger discussion around gender inequality in the film industry, highlighting how women continue to face different expectations and treatment on set, even as the industry evolves. Kriti suggested that these biases are often embedded in routine interactions, where identical behaviour from male and female actors is perceived differently.On work front, Kriti was recently seen in ‘Cocktail 2’.