'I Was In A Similar Situation': Actress Gouri Kishan On Gender Discrimination, Recalls Being 'Brushed Aside' When She Spoke Up

Tamil-Malayalam actress Gouri Kishan, renowned for her role as Jaanu in 96, has spoken about encountering gender discrimination in the film industry. During a discussion at the India Today Roundtable Keralam, Gouri recalled feeling "brushed aside" as a woman when she voiced her opinions. She acknowledged that while Kerala is one of the most progressive states, patriarchy remains evident and cannot be overlooked, despite the passage of time.

Gouri believes that patriarchy is deeply ingrained in people's conditioning and is not confined to older generations.

Reflecting on the misogyny prevalent in the film industry, Gouri stated that she has witnessed it continue to exist. She also pointed out the scarcity of women working behind the camera and the limited power women often have within the industry. Recalling a recent incident of gender discrimination, Gouri recounted how a co-actor questioned her about noticing people looking down when she spoke out.

Gouri retorted, "Do you think I did not see that?" She emphasized that women are accustomed to being dismissed but stressed the need to challenge this behavior.

Gouri also recognized that her upbringing in a city and her education have granted her certain privileges. Nevertheless, she admitted that despite these advantages, she has met men who still hold the belief that "women do not possess brains." Actress Gouri Kishan has firmly refused to accept an apology from a reporter for body shaming, stating that she will not accept hollow words.