Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar penned a strong-worded note to slam misogyny that undermines women's achievements, especially in the entertainment industry. Criticising gender bias that reduces a woman's achievements to assumptions of male support, the actress said that she lives life on her own terms and enjoys company of those who inspire her.
According to a Reddit post, Manushi's post comes after a blind item, claiming she is 'popular' among 'sugar daddy circles of businessmen and entrepreneurs', went viral.
"A misogynistic mindset finds it easier to attribute a woman's success to a man's patronage than her own merit. I've always really ignored silly comments which have no consequence in the real world, but I constantly see working women, specially in the entertainment industry being discussed with such disrespect and contempt," Manushi wrote.
She added, "I grew up in an empowered, educated environment where irrespective of gender, we all had equal value to add, where being a good doctor mattered, not being a man or a woman. But I have also been exposed to this mentality of- men are talented and hard working if successful, whereas women opportunists, gold diggers or manipulators."
"I have grown up admiring wonderful women doing wonderful things and I give them full credit for it! I have also known wonderful men who've never felt insecure of a female presence. So let's just get this straight... I'm a girl who won the world and made her dreams come true. And this comes from me feeling self assured and accomplished, not arrogance, I still have so much to do."
"But while I chase what makes sense to my larger scheme of things, I continue to celebrate the value I add, please don't forget that I'm a financially independent, self made, working woman, and I do take a lot of pride in it I do live my life on my own terms, make friends I can learn from, enjoy the company of people who inspire me and wake up every morning knowing I'm one step ahead without having to prove anything to anyone," Manushi further wrote.
The Prithviraj actress asked all girls to ignore those who question one's character.
"P.S.- dear girls, there is a lot of joy in being independent and it will make a lot of men and women uncomfortable, the easiest thing to do will be to question your character. Ignore it, cause having your own life is worth it! Now going back to my happy bubble," she concluded.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Manushi was last seen in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Sonakshi Sinha.
Manushi, who made her acting debut in 2022 with Samrat Prithviraj, is all set to play lead roles in films like Maalik and Tehran.
