Indian actor Sanya Malhotra has shared why she believes many traditional household expectations place an unfair burden on women. Drawing from her personal life, she explained how she encouraged her mother to step away from constant household duties and focus more on herself.
The actor said many South Asian families associate a mother’s love with endless acts of service. However, she believes women deserve the freedom to pursue their own dreams, interests, and personal happiness.
Speaking during an interview, Sanya reflected on how these deeply rooted family traditions shaped her childhood. She also connected those experiences with the themes explored in her film Mrs.
Household Expectations Often Fall on Women
Sanya explained that many South Asian homes continue to follow traditional gender roles. As a result, women often spend most of their time managing household responsibilities while placing their own ambitions aside.
“In a desi household, you usually see a woman in the kitchen and men waiting outside for things to be done for them. That is how it was in my house as well. I did not realise we were putting so much pressure on my mom until I visited home after having moved to Mumbai,” she said.
She recalled an emotional moment that completely changed her perspective.
“She started crying that day because she was not able to cook for me. I was like, ‘Mama, I already know you love me. If you can’t cook for me, that does not mean you do not love me. This action of love has nothing to do with whether you love me or not.’ I realised that day how much my mom sacrifices for me and that acts of service become their love language. But that love language could be something else,” Sanya said.
According to the actor, families should not measure love through household work alone.
Encouraging Parents to Break Old Habits
Following that experience, Sanya encouraged both of her parents to move beyond traditional expectations.
She shared that her mother gradually began spending more time on herself instead of heading directly to the kitchen each morning.
“Now when I tell her not to cook, she agrees. I feel proud when I see her doing her morning routine when she wakes up, instead of going straight to the kitchen. I can see she prioritises her ‘me time,'” the actor shared.
Sanya also discussed similar conversations with her father.
“I was also very vocal with my father on this. I used to have constant fights with them about how he should go to the kitchen and get himself water or cook a meal. That is something he still needs to work on, but I feel like that becomes second nature to them. They like to be pampered,” she said.
She believes changing these everyday habits can help create healthier family dynamics.
Her Film Mrs Reflects a Common Reality
The actor explained that these personal experiences closely resemble the story portrayed in Mrs. In the film, she plays Richa, a newly married woman whose dreams slowly disappear beneath domestic responsibilities.
According to Sanya, many women have approached her after watching the film.
“I meet women who tell me that this is their story. They go through this every day. It makes me sad and angry. But I like that my films are good conversation starters and can teach women what is not right. Even if that shift is happening at a one per cent rate, I am happy with that,” Sanya said.
She believes cinema can encourage meaningful conversations inside families.
Women Should Not Be Defined by Sacrifice Alone
Sanya argued that society often celebrates women’s sacrifices while overlooking their personal ambitions.
“We think if a woman is sacrificing, that is the best they can do. We put women on a pedestal and be like if she is a mother then they have to keep sacrificing their dreams,” she noted.
The actor also revealed that her mother once wanted to become a fashion designer.
“My mom always wanted to be a fashion designer and could not. Very late in my life, I realised that she also has dreams and hobbies. I don’t want her to think she is just my mother. She is also a human being,” the actor said.
For Sanya, recognising mothers as individuals is just as important as appreciating their role within the family.
Sanya Responds to the Film’s Backlash
The actor also addressed the criticism surrounding Mrs. She said the negative reactions never discouraged her because she remained confident in her beliefs.
“People were burning my posters. I had no idea because I took off from work, but I got excited and ran to my dad saying, ‘They’re boycotting me!’, and he replied, ‘You made it!’ I am not here to make them angry. I also know they probably have not even seen the film. I do not want to teach anyone what feminism is about. If you are one, you don’t have to be apologetic about anything,” she stated.
Sanya maintained that meaningful conversations often begin when difficult social issues are brought into the spotlight.
The actor was most recently seen in Netflix’s dark comedy Toaster. She is now preparing for her upcoming projects, Bandar and Sundar Poonam.
