Sanya Malhotra slams 'desi acts of service'

Indian actor Sanya Malhotra opened up about challenging traditional gender roles within her family, revealing that she "forced" her mother to step away from the kitchen and begin prioritising herself. The actor argued that the culture of women expressing love through constant acts of service in many South Asian households was harmful, and that families should instead encourage mothers to pursue their dreams and interests.

In an interview, Sanya reflected on the expectations placed on women in South Asian households, where they are often expected to spend much of their time in the kitchen while putting their own ambitions on hold. Drawing from both her personal experiences and her role as Richa in Mrs, she urged people to redefine what love looked like within families.

"In a desi household, you usually see a woman in the kitchen and men waiting outside for things to be done for them. That is how it was in my house as well. I did not realise we were putting so much pressure on my mom until I visited home after having moved to Mumbai," she said.

The actor recalled a moment when she found her mother in tears because she was too unwell to cook. "She started crying that day because she was not able to cook for me. I was like, 'Mama, I already know you love me. If you can't cook for me, that does not mean you do not love me. This action of love has nothing to do with whether you love me or not.' I realised that day how much my mom sacrifices for me and that acts of service become their love language. But that love language could be something else," Sanya said.

She added that she encouraged both her parents to move away from traditional household roles, telling them that they did not have to follow long-held gender expectations. "Now when I tell her not to cook, she agrees. I feel proud when I see her doing her morning routine when she wakes up, instead of going straight to the kitchen. I can see she prioritises her 'me time,'" the actor shared.

She also noted that she approached her father regarding the issue. "I was also very vocal with my father on this. I used to have constant fights with them about how he should go to the kitchen and get himself water or cook a meal. That is something he still needs to work on, but I feel like that becomes second nature to them. They like to be pampered," she said.

The actor noted how such experiences mirrored the themes explored in Mrs, in which she portrays Richa, a newlywed woman whose life becomes consumed by domestic responsibilities, leaving little room for her own aspirations and identity. "I meet women who tell me that this is their story. They go through this every day. It makes me sad and angry", Sanya said.