Sonali Kulkarni Hits Back at Stereotypes Around Actresses Playing Mother Roles

Acclaimed actress Sonali Kulkarni has delivered a frank and unvarnished critique of film industry double standards regarding age, gender, and character choices, specifically calling out the recurring societal obsession over female performers taking on maternal roles. Having carved out a versatile career spanning Hindi, Marathi, and regional cinema across diverse media platforms, Kulkarni has returned to the pan-India cinematic stage as the mother to Telugu superstar Nani in the newly released action spectacle The Paradise.Addressing the inquisitive murmurs and unsolicited questioning that greeted her decision, the veteran performer voiced bewilderment over why an actress embracing maternal depth continues to provoke surprise, while male counterparts rarely face identical scrutiny or career pigeonholing when exploring varied age demographics on screen.Double Standards and Double Takes: Why Do Heroines Face Stereotyping?Reflecting on the unsolicited commentary that often follows casting announcements for female artists, Kulkarni highlighted how structural biases persist in entertainment narratives."I'm genuinely surprised when I'm repeatedly asked, 'Why did you choose the role of a mother?'" she explained, pointing out that when leading male heroes experiment with multifaceted or unconventional character sketches, their transitions are celebrated as artistic range rather than scrutinized as career demotions. "When a heroine steps into a mother's shoes, people instantly gasp, 'Oh, she’s playing a mother now!' Earlier in my career, whenever I faced such questions, I would actively confront them and ask what they truly meant by that line of thought," she remarked, challenging the narrow, ageist lens through which female careers are frequently judged.From 'Mission Kashmir' to 'The Paradise': A 26-Year Arc Alongside Hrithik and NaniGrounding her creative stance in personal history, Kulkarni recalled portraying Hrithik Roshan’s mother Neelima in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 2000 drama Mission Kashmir very early in her journey, noting that the choice never restricted her artistic trajectory.Following that critically praised project, she seamlessly went on to deliver vibrant romantic and contemporary leads in major commercial films like Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Farhan Akhtar's cult classic Dil Chahta Hai, supported by filmmakers who recognized her craft beyond superficial tags. Describing maternal roles as an emotional compliment rather than a professional constraint, she emphasized that maternal values and relationships anchor human life across cultures.Returning to a mother's part after a 26-year gap in The Paradise, Kulkarni noted that unlike Mission Kashmir—where she shared only a single dramatic face-to-face frame with Hrithik—her dynamic with Nani features extensive screen time, providing rich dramatic scope that honors the authenticity of complex mother-son storytelling.