Prarthana Behere cites the Rs. 370 Biryani row as proof that society is becoming conscious about women: ‘Even men spoke up” |

After delivering two successful Marathi films this year, Prarthana Behere is now looking to score a hat trick with her upcoming film ‘Mardini.’ Backed by actor-producer Shreyas Talpade, the film sees Prarthana stepping into a powerful, women-centric role that explores the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of a mother.The actress, who has largely been associated with glamorous characters throughout her career, is excited about presenting a completely different side of herself on screen. ‘Mardini’ revolves around a mother’s struggle for her daughter and family while highlighting the immense power and courage that emerge from motherhood.

Prarthana Behere on representation of women in films and Rs. 370 Biryani controversy

In an exclusive conversation, Prarthana also spoke about how society’s perception of women is gradually changing and whether cinema is doing enough to represent women respectfully.Addressing the ongoing debate around objectification of women in films, Prarthana said, “I think every film has a different subject and therefore requires a different treatment. It’s not true that women-centric films don’t exist anymore. In fact, Hindi cinema has made many such films, and female characters are often treated with great respect there. The same applies to South Indian cinema as well.”The actress believes that society has become far more aware and vocal about issues concerning women than it was a few years ago.“I feel the scenario is gradually changing. People’s mindsets are evolving. Just look at the recent controversy over the ₹370 biryani comment made by a stand-up comedian,” she said.Prarthana pointed out that the backlash against the remark wasn’t limited to women alone. “Today, people are much more aware. Not just women, but even men spoke up against it. I saw many male influencers openly criticizing those remarks and calling them insensitive.”She further added that women also used the incident to highlight larger issues surrounding everyday expenses and gender realities. “I also saw women responding by pointing out how absurd it was to debate a ₹370 biryani when women spend much more than that on basic necessities. People are expressing these emotions openly now, and society is becoming more conscious of such issues.”The actress is encouraged by this growing awareness and feels cinema is also reflecting the shift. “I’m happy to see this growing awareness. And cinema, too, is trying to reflect that change,” she concluded.With ‘Mardini’ set to release on July 3, Prarthana is hopeful that audiences will connect with the film’s emotional core and its celebration of the strength that lies within every woman.