Actress Maanvi Gagroo, known for her role as Siddhi Patel in the hit series Four More Shots Please, has called for greater sensitivity and responsibility from storytellers regarding the representation of women on screen.
When discussing the portrayal of female-centric characters over the years, Maanvi noted, “If we specifically look at how women have been represented on screen, it has reflected a certain mindset for a long time.”
She pointed out that women who indulge in drinking are often depicted as ‘bad’ or ‘bigdi hui (spoilt)’ characters. She explained that these portrayals typically culminate in a dramatic turn where the character transforms into a pure, pious ‘sudhri hui ladki’ (good girl), adhering to societal expectations by forsaking alcohol, donning Indian attire, and behaving accordingly.
Maanvi strongly advocates for filmmakers to be more mindful of their character portrayals, particularly regarding women. She stated, “Art imitates life, and life imitates art; it works both ways. As the world changes, these ideas also need to change. This isn’t to say that smoking, drinking, or partying is good; it’s not, and honestly, to each their own. If someone can handle it, that’s their choice. But as storytellers, we need to be more aware, if not responsible, about what we are portraying and reinforcing.”
Previously, Maanvi addressed why women face constant scrutiny for their choices, whereas men often escape judgment, even for illogical actions. She questioned, “I feel there is constant judgement around what women do whether they drink or not, smoke or not, or party or not. Nobody seems to judge men for things like peeing on the roads. So why aren’t men being judged in the same way? They should be, right?!”
Her concern lies in the stark contrast in societal judgment between genders. “Let’s get both genders on an equal level first. Before even discussing whether the judgment is right or wrong, we need to ask whether judging anyone is fair in the first place, to be honest,” Maanvi concluded.
Regarding Four More Shots Please Season 4, which was released on December 19, this season marks the series’ final chapter. It has garnered an excellent response from both critics and viewers alike. The show features a talented cast, including Bani J, Kriti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Prateik Babbar, Smita Patil, and Dino Morea.