Ridhi Dogra, who is currently promoting her upcoming film The Sabarmati Report, recently shared her thoughts on why she chose to play the mother of Shah Rukh Khan in the Atlee directorial Jawan. She explained that in today’s world of social media, misinformation, misinterpretation, and judgments happen very quickly. She highlighted how the overload of information makes it difficult for people to assess what’s true or false. Ridhi emphasized that as an actor, she has always aimed to choose work that allows her to express something meaningful and be a responsible citizen.
Ridhi also reflected on her early career choices, recalling how she tried to play roles that would inspire women. “Television, especially, reaches small towns and rural areas,” she told Bollywood Bubble. She shared an experience, recalling, “In my second year in the industry, I attended an event in a smaller city. I remember going to the markets, meeting people, and seeing that the sarees my character wore were being sold there. In one household, I learned that a woman had made a major life decision after seeing my character.”
This moment opened her eyes to the responsibility actors hold, particularly in television, where people show immense love. She made a conscious decision to be selective about her roles, aiming to choose work that she would still be proud of in the future.
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She went on to discuss her role in Jawan, mentioning that it was a stand against age-related stereotypes in the industry. Ridhi took on the role to show that an actress’ career shouldn’t be limited by age. “In the OTT space, I’ve taken up roles in shows like Asur, Badtameez Dil, Married Woman and even in films, such as playing the mother of Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan. I took on that role to show that an actress’s time is not up based on age. I’ve already played a 60-year-old character, so now what can anyone say? It’s my way of taking a stand,” she said.
Ridhi also revealed that after the Nirbhaya case, she made a vow to never take on roles that objectify her. She explained that she wouldn’t do roles in music videos or dance numbers where her only purpose was to look glamorous or “hot.” Ridhi felt that making this decision was her way of responding to societal issues and taking a stand in her career choices.