Swastika Mukherjee, celebrated for her impactful roles on screen and her bold, unapologetic self off it, speaks to CT about her definition of feminism ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. “If speaking up your mind makes you a difficult woman, let it be that way, because only then can things change,” she explains, sharing how she’s fought for equal pay, her commitment to empowering the next generation of women, and more.

‘I have made pay parity a reality in my life’
Swastika says she can’t be diplomatic and a people pleaser, so she made sure her pay matches her male co-actors. “In Qala, Triptii’s character says her remuneration should be one rupee more than that of her male colleague. That’s a line in a film, but I’ve made it a reality in my life. I’ve set my own benchmark,” she says.

Celebrate yourself as a woman, and only then will the world celebrate you & your achievements- Swastika Mukherjee



Equality is a birthright, not a privilege, and men should remember this: Swastika



This year, the UN theme for Women’s Day is ‘For all Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’. What’s your take on this?
I fully agree that success can’t be achieved alone. If I grow, I want my people to grow with me. It’s easy to talk about women’s rights , but we must act on them. During the pandemic, I promoted women entrepreneurs on my social media handles, helping lesser-known brands thrive. It felt rewarding to support them. Life is more than money and fame; it should have purpose. Encouraging other women to succeed and shine is powerful.
What do you think about equality in the Tollywood industry ?
I think this exists in society as a whole. When I go to a pub with a male friend and order a hard drink and a fresh lime soda, the waiter always places the drink in front of him and the soda in front of me. When asked why, they can never answer. The same happens with the bill. These notions must change for future generations.
What about Tollywood?
In the Tollywood industry, you must be vocal and know when and how to take a stand. Speak your mind without fear, even if it means being called opinionated or difficult. If you face discrimination on set, address it immediately. Staying silent makes it look like you’re okay with it. My team is as vocal as I am, so no one dares to mess with us. I started working at 20, and in an industry full of judgment, I quickly reached the ‘I don’t care’ stage, especially since I was married and a mother early on, giving people more reason to gossip.
How do you want to empower the future generation of women?
Rabindranath Tagore said, ‘Onnay jey korey ar onnay jey shohey, tobey ghrina jeno tare trinosomo dohey’, and that should be our principle in life. If someone is trying to demean you, give it back to them. That should be the attitude to move forward in life. Melinda Gates once said, ‘A woman with a voice is, by definition, is a strong woman’. Be yourself, the world will adjust.
Recently you shared that you went for an audition but couldn’t make it in spite of 25 years of experience...
People should know that even after 25 years, we still fail sometimes. The reality is twofold: I still need to audition for projects, and failure is part of the process. Success isn’t guaranteed every day.


‘I believe that any profession should be gender-neutral’
There have been instances where I’ve been addressed as ‘actress Swastika’ at seminars, and I’ve had it changed to ‘actor’ since I believe that any profession should be gender-neutral. We must continue to address this so the next generation doesn’t face such discrimination.


‘Public figures should embrace body positivity’
I embrace every imperfection in my body while portraying characters, as it makes them feel authentic. I have stretch marks from my pregnancy, and over time, I’ve embraced them. I used to avoid wearing a bikini because of my stretch marks, but now I wear it with pride. I also have scars on my hands from self-harm due to mental health struggles, and I no longer feel ashamed of them. When people ask me about my scars, I simply tell them, ‘I’m not going to share the details.’ Public figures should embrace body positivity & accept one’s age, not just preach abut it. At 44, I proudly share imperfect pictures of myself on social media.

Owning the feminist tag
I stand up against injustice and inequality as a responsible citizen, not because I’m a woman. My parents taught me to protest injustice. I have a problem when men behave like they’re doing us a favour by treating us equally. Equality is a birth right, not a privilege, and men should remember this to create a society free of gender bias and discrimination.