Kirti Kulhari, known for Mission Mangal and Shaitan, debuted with Khichdi: The Movie in 2010. The actress recently opened up about the challenges women face on film sets.
In conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Kirti shared that while she didn’t face extreme issues, she noticed a difference in treatment based on an actor’s popularity. In advertisements, newcomers get attention if they are the main face, but when working alongside well-known actors, the dynamics shift, and they receive less importance.
Kirti further explained that treatment on film sets often depends on an actor’s popularity. In Shaitan, Kalki Koechlin received more attention as she was well-known, while in Pink, Taapsee Pannu was given importance due to her rising fame. By Mission Mangal, Kirti had accepted this reality and stopped taking it personally.
She also expressed her desire to avoid favoritism on set, emphasizing that if a star is paid more, they already receive better facilities. She believes everyone deserves equal respect and aims to maintain dignity and fairness in her team. She also disapproves of distinctions like separate food quality for different crew members.
Kirti stressed the need for better sanitation facilities for female crew members, noting that while artists have separate restrooms, crew members often lack proper arrangements. She also questioned the assumption that men can manage anywhere, emphasizing the importance of maintaining hygiene and dignity for everyone on set.
Kulhari also emphasised the importance of basic human dignity for everyone on set, including both men and women. She pointed out that proper arrangements should be made for all, as small changes can significantly improve the work environment. She believes cinema is a people-driven medium, and a happy, motivated team creates magic on screen.