I don't think film industry is much responsible for nepotism: Kriti Sanon

Kriti made the remark while speaking at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

The actress said, "The industry has given me a very warm welcome since the time I have come. Of course, when you don’t belong to a film background, it takes time for you to get there.

"It takes time for you to get those opportunities that you crave for. It takes time for you to even get those magazine covers. So everything is a bit of a struggle. But nothing can stop one if he/she keeps working hard."

She added, "I feel it's not the industry so much that's responsible. It is also the media and eventually the audiences because the audiences want to watch what the media is putting about certain starkids and they feel interested. It is because the audience feels interested, people in the industry want to make a movie with the starkids. I feel it's a circle. It's everyone all together.

"But I believe, eventually if one is talented, he/she gets there. No matter where one comes from, he/she will not get there if talent is lacking. If the audience doesn't connect, one will not get there."

Kriti, who made her Bollywood debut with Heropanti in 2014, is one of the A-listers in the Hindi film industry now.

She has won the National Award for her role in Mimi at the 69th National Film Awards.

Apart from Mimi, the films that headlined her career were Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi, Bhediya, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Crew.

She ventured into production this year with Do Patti, where she played a double role.

Speaking at a panel discussion on the topic of Empowering Change: Women Leading the Way in Cinema at Kala Academy, in Goa, Kriti said that her film Mimi was the boldest choice that she had made in her acting career so far and that risk paid off well when she won the National Award for Best Actor (female) for that movie.

Kriti Sanon at the 55th IFFI | Photo courtesy: PIB

"I was advised against selecting this film (Mimi) by many people. They were afraid that I would be given the label of an actor who prefers art house films and that it would affect the other projects coming my way.

"Still, I chose it because the script touched my heart. And this factor should matter most while choosing projects," Kriti opined. 

She also expressed her desire to play a superwoman character and any character in a negative role in the future.

Kriti said she considers her role in the movie Do Patti as layered and nuanced and also described the subject of domestic violence as something which touches her heart.

Speaking about her role in the movie Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, the actor expressed how it was difficult to play the role of a perfectly straight-faced robot and how that role was well received.

While commenting about negative characters and roles being played by women in recent films, Kriti said that audiences do like and connect well with grey characters and that the 'male gaze' is undergoing change nowadays, with lesser demand for the 'perfect' girl or woman.

Kriti Sanon speaks during a panel discussion at IFFI in Goa | Photo courtesy: PIB

Kriti said she has great admiration for the new crop of female writers that gained entry into the industry through OTT platforms.

She added that OTT platforms are giving female filmmakers better reach in hundreds of countries.

"Women should grow and work on themselves; they should give their hundred percent, stay curious and ask questions," concluded the actor.