Sanya Malhotra said- Why should household chores be the responsibility of only women? Men should also help

It is a matter of pride for the entire country that you received the Best Actress award at the New York Indian Film Festival for the film Mrs. What does this award mean to you?

It feels good to receive an award. It is a validation that you have done a good job but I feel even better when the audience likes the film and the response of the people at the festival was very good. Everyone who saw the film liked it, so I hope that when the film is released in India, people will like it too.

Sanya Malhotra performed a mind-blowing dance at her sister’s wedding, danced to Shahrukh’s song and showed her desi style

‘Mrs’ is a remake of the popular Malayalam film ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’, which very effectively depicts the monotonous routine of a typical housewife. What impact did it have on you while doing it?

I felt a sense of sympathy for such women. We often see women around us who struggle with household chores all day but do not get any appreciation. Their work is not considered work at all. It is such a thankless job that after a while I felt suffocated doing this role but I learn something or the other from each of my roles. I also learnt from this that there is no one stronger than these women. We say that the work of a housewife is the most difficult work and only strong people can do difficult work.

Your character in Sam Bahadur did not seem that strong as you usually do. What was the reason for doing it?

I will not say that the character was not strong. It was a real character, not fictional. Sillu Manekshaw is the wife of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw ji, so it would be very wrong to say that she is not strong. She has been a very influential person. Playing her role was a big opportunity for me. I don’t think any actor would have refused that role if she had got it.

‘Jawaan’ actress Sanya Malhotra said- Shahrukh sir is the king of romance because he/she respects women

Tell us something about your upcoming films ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ and the untitled film directed by Anurag Kashyap?

All I can tell you right now is that both of these are very different kinds of films. My character in both is something that I have not done before. I always do different kinds of roles, be it Jawan, Kathal or Sam Bahadur. No one has been able to put me in a box so far and I am trying to ensure that no one puts me in a box. These films are also something that I have not done in my filmography yet. Therefore, I am very excited about them.

Housewives are looked down upon in society, even though they work more than a working person. Sometimes the issue of fixing their salary also comes up. What is your opinion on this?

Of course, and no one even appreciates them. No one even says that you have been working since morning, whereas this is the most difficult job. I also find it strange that why are only women expected to do household chores? Cooking, doing household chores, these are life skills. Everyone should know this. Not just women or men, everyone. If you don’t know how to cook, how long will you order food from outside and eat? But our conditioning is that this is only women’s work, which needs to be changed that every gender should know these household chores. Our film will somewhere force people to think about this. I have always said that as an actor, we have a responsibility that what kind of film we are doing, what kind of character we are playing and I try to be a part of such films that inspire people. There should be some change in their thinking, be it Jawaan, Dangal, Pagglait or Mrs.

You received appreciation for your film at the New York Indian Film Festival. This time after a long time, Indian films also shined at Cannes, otherwise only fashion and clothes are talked about there. What is your view on this?

I think fashion and glamour have gone hand in hand. These two are not separate worlds. Whether it is ramp walk or walking on the red carpet in designer clothes, fashion is connected to Bollywood. But if I talk about myself, when I go to Cannes, it will definitely be for a film.