Shefali Shah has openly criticized the Hindi film industry for its glaring ageism and sexism. She pointed out that while male leads can be of any age, female leads are often expected to be strictly between 18 and 25 years old, having a limited “shelf life” on screen.
The actor highlighted recent examples like Ranveer Singh being paired with a much younger co-star, contrasting it with her own experience of playing a mother to an older actor. She emphasized that such casting norms restrict women’s opportunities to portray diverse characters and shades.
Shah also addressed the double standards regarding working hours in the industry. She noted that while male actors taking months off for family vacations is praised as work-life balance, female actors asking for fixed shifts are unfairly judged, proving the deep-rooted gender bias in Bollywood.
