Saiyami on Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s Alpha: ‘Female actors have to keep proving themselves’

Female-led films are gaining traction in Bollywood, but actress Saiyami Kher feels there is still a long way to go before they are treated equally to films led by men. During an exclusive interview, Saiyami, who is eagerly anticipating the release of her movie Haiwaan, discussed the increased scrutiny female-led films face when they perform poorly at the box office, while male-led movies continue to receive more opportunities regardless of their reception.

Saiyami noted that male-led films are often given multiple chances even if they fail to captivate audiences, whereas female-led films encounter a different level of criticism when they underperform. When discussing the evolving landscape, Saiyami brought up Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's movie Alpha, a significant female-led project with substantial investment.

However, she expressed her belief that women still need to constantly prove their ability to headline films. Saiyami shared her thoughts on the reception of male-led films compared to female-led films, stating that while Alpha featured attractive actors and was an exciting first all-female spy film, the film industry often questions whether audiences will attend female-led movies.

She emphasized that for any film led by women, there is an unfortunate need to continuously prove oneself, which is regrettably the reality. Despite the challenges, Saiyami believes that the situation is improving, not just for female actors but also for women working behind the camera. She pointed out that there is a growing presence of female directors, writers, technicians, and cinematographers, which is a positive development.

Saiyami expressed her hope that this trend will accelerate in the future. Saiyami also touched upon the limited number of roles written specifically for women. She cited actresses like Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Tabu, and Shefali Shah, who have successfully portrayed diverse and compelling characters, as evidence of the need for more such roles.

"I just wish we could see more of Tabu, Shabana, and Shefali," Saiyami said. Shriya Pilgaonkar, who plays a significant role in Haiwaan, agreed with Saiyami's perspective. She noted that male actors can take extended breaks from acting, returning as leading men after seven to ten years, while women are often required to start anew after a similar hiatus.

Shriya believes that the success of one major female-led film could shift the conversation and inspire more filmmakers to create stories centered around women.