‘Men are talented, women are gold diggers?’: Manushi Chhillar’s sharp reply to sexist stereotypes

Mumbai: Actor and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar has spoken out strongly against the sexism and disrespect women face, especially in the entertainment industry. In a recent post on social media platform X, she criticised the mindset that credits a woman’s success to a man’s support instead of her own hard work and talent.

“A misogynistic mindset finds it easier to attribute a woman’s success to a man’s patronage than her own merit,” she wrote.

While acknowledging that she usually ignores “silly comments,” Chhillar said that she is deeply disturbed by the constant disrespect and contempt directed at women, particularly in the public eye. “I constantly see working women, specially in the entertainment industry being discussed with such disrespect and contempt,” she noted.

“I grew up in an empowered, educated environment where irrespective of gender, we all had equal value to add.” Yet, she has also witnessed the widely held belief that “men are hardworking and talented if successful, whereas women and opportunists, gold diggers or manipulators.”

Ending with a pointed remark on the underlying insecurity and jealousy that fuel such commentary, she wrote, “Is it as simple as “if you hear something bad about a woman, it’s from a female who can’t be her or a male who can’t have her”

Or is there a deep rooted bias?”

Manushi Chhillar shot to fame after winning the Miss World 2017 title, bringing the crown back to India after 17 years. She made her Bollywood debut in Samrat Prithviraj opposite Akshay Kumar, followed by roles in The Great Indian Family, Operation Valentine.