Actress Indraxi Kanjilal, who is currently seen in Pushpa Impossible as Prarthana, believes that TV shows and films need to improve their portrayal of women. While a lot has changed, there is still much more to be done, she adds.

“I believe that change has already begun, but it is still on a small scale. However, it will grow in the future. Women are now being portrayed more openly and realistically in films, rather than just as objects. In many Bollywood movies, women have often been shown as secondary to the hero, with little importance given to their characters. They are frequently depicted as weak or dependent, which is far from reality. Women are incredibly smart and capable. They manage everything—from home to work to social situations—with intelligence and strength. They are always aware of their surroundings because, unfortunately, safety remains a concern,” she says.

She adds, “Slowly, things are changing. More films now focus on women as strong, independent characters, but most of these projects are still led by female directors or writers. It would be great to see more men contributing to this change by making films that portray women as real, strong individuals rather than just side characters. Earlier, there were hardly any women-centric films, but now we see more of them. Movies like Mardaani in Bollywood and The Devil Wears Prada in Hollywood showcase strong female leads.”

When asked if any of her characters have deeply resonated with her, she says, “Prarthana, the character I play, is a very empowered woman who has come a long way. She started as a student and later married the man she loved since childhood. At first, she wanted to be a homemaker because that was where she felt comfortable. However, she lacked the confidence to step outside her boundaries. Over time, her confidence grew, thanks to the support of her mother-in-law, Pushpa. This is quite rare in Indian serials, where mothers-in-law are often portrayed in a negative light, almost like villains. But Pushpa has always empowered Prarthana, encouraging her to grow. Now, Prarthana aspires to become an IPS officer. Despite being paralyzed, she is determined to overcome her challenges. From being a homemaker who was hesitant to step out of her comfort zone to becoming a strong, ambitious woman, her journey is truly inspiring. I find her transformation very empowering, and it will resonate with me in the future.”

The actress also addresses the issue of gender-based pay disparity in the industry. While she has not personally experienced it, she has heard of several incidents. “I have seen cases where the male lead is paid more than the female lead, even when the female lead attracts a larger audience. Many actresses have even left their shows due to such pay disparities. While my show is different in this regard, the issue still exists in the industry, especially in Bollywood. In Bollywood, it has almost been a tradition for male actors to be paid more than female actors. But there are exceptions. For instance, in a movie like Happy New Year, Shah Rukh Khan was paid more than Deepika Padukone—not because he is a man, but because he is a legendary actor with a bigger fan base. However, in Chhapaak, where Deepika was the lead actress alongside Vikrant Massey, she was paid more because she was the bigger star and drew a larger audience. So yes, pay disparity based on gender does exist in the industry, but little by little, things are improving. That’s what I believe.”