Malavika Mohanan, daughter of renowned cinematographer KU Mohanan, recently spoke about the disparities between working in South Indian cinema and Bollywood, shedding light on the gender bias that exists in certain South film industries.
Malavika, who made her Bollywood debut with Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Yudhra, expressed her concern about how female actors are often treated as more replaceable compared to their male counterparts.
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Malavika humorously addressed the gifting culture in South Indian cinema, especially during wedding seasons. She joked about never having received the expensive gifts, such as cars and watches, that are often rumored to be given to actors. She explained that this gifting culture usually rewards male stars, with producers using these gifts to build relationships with bankable male leads. However, female actors are often overlooked, reflecting the perception that they are less valuable in the industry.
She highlighted that while male actors are celebrated for their box-office success, female actors often face undue scrutiny when films underperform. “There’s a general notion that female actors are more replaceable than male actors. Male stars have bankability—if his last film made 200 to 300 crores, he’s seen as a safe bet,” Malavika said, pointing to the ingrained bias that favors male leads in terms of both recognition and financial backing.
Malavika also touched on how female actors are unfairly labeled as “unlucky” when a movie fails to perform well, a label she says is rarely, if ever, applied to male stars. She revealed that she has observed this trend across multiple film industries but noted that it’s especially prevalent in some South Indian film circles.
As an example, she mentioned that producers are far more likely to reward male actors with gifts or lucrative contracts following a successful film, whereas female actors, even those who contribute significantly to a movie’s success, often don’t receive the same acknowledgment.
Malavika, who starred alongside Chiyaan Vikram in the recent hit Thangalaan, is currently working on her next projects, Sardar 2 and The Raja Saab. As her career progresses, her insights continue to spotlight ongoing gender imbalances in the industry, advocating for greater recognition and equal treatment of female actors across the board.