Ashika Ranganath defends Janhvi Kapoor amid debate over female representation in commercial cinema
Ashika Ranganath defends Janhvi Kapoor amid debate over female representation in commercial cinema
Actress Ashika Ranganath has weighed in on the ongoing discussion surrounding the portrayal of women in mainstream films, arguing that criticism should not be directed solely at actresses who take up such roles.
Her remarks come amid recent debates on social media over the depiction of female characters in big-budget commercial films, including discussions surrounding actress Janhvi Kapoor’s role in the upcoming Telugu film ‘Peddi’.
Addressing the issue during a media interaction, Ashika said actors often work within the framework provided by filmmakers and writers, making it unfair to place the entire responsibility for a character’s portrayal on the performer. She suggested that conversations about representation should focus on the broader filmmaking ecosystem rather than targeting individual actresses.
The actor noted that performers generally choose projects based on a variety of factors, including the story, director, production scale and career opportunities. According to her, meaningful change in the portrayal of women on screen requires a collective effort from writers, directors, producers and audiences.
Ashika also pointed out that commercial cinema functions within established industry patterns and audience expectations, which can influence the way characters are written and presented. She stressed that actresses should not be singled out for decisions that are often made at multiple levels of the filmmaking process.
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