Soundarya Sharma on changing landscape in Bollywood: Old stereotypes are fading

India Today

16-06-2025

Soundarya Sharma, who was recently seen in 'Housefull 5' alongside Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, and others, opened up about the reception to her character Lucy, breaking stereotypes, her screen time, the objectification of women in films, and finding her footing in Bollywood in an exclusive interview with India Today.For Soundarya, being cast in 'Housefull 5' with senior actors is a moment of gratitude. She said, 'For me, and I think for any newcomer, getting such a big platform is a blessing. I'm genuinely grateful to God and to my makers for trusting me. There are so many talented people out there trying to find their place in the industry. To be noticed and appreciated by the audience, and to receive recognition, especially when sharing screen space with senior actors, is significant. Even a few impactful scenes can make a lasting impression."advertisementEven if it's a smaller role, she believes that impact matters more than on-screen minutes. 'I truly believe less is more. If your character is strong, no one can take that away from you,' she said, adding, "Also, when it comes to screen time, I don't think like that. For me, work is work. If you're good, better opportunities will follow. In a film with multiple actors, balancing screen space is always a challenge for directors, producers, and everyone involved. You might have limited screen time, but if you leave an impression, that's what matters. I don't think stardom comes overnight - you have to learn everything from scratch: how to stand, how lighting works, and what angle suits you. Every small thing matters. So the first step is to be grateful for the opportunities you get. Eventually, if the right people are watching, good things will come your way." advertisement
When asked if it was difficult to break away from the label of being just a pretty face, she said, 'I haven't done a lot of work yet to say I've seen it all, but from what I've experienced, things are changing. The kind of work being made is evolving, and actors don't get stuck or boxed into stereotypes."She pointed out how earlier, female actors were often told not to do dance numbers if they wanted to be taken seriously. "Earlier, there used to be this notion - 'don't do dance numbers if you want to be seen as a lead actor.' But now, look at the biggest actresses today - they're doing great songs and also leading films. They're the face of the film. So that mindset is fading. Those old shackles and stereotypes are breaking. People are more open to seeing an actor as someone who can dance, act, perform, do comedy - everything. Versatility is the key today. At the end of the day, you're playing a character on screen - you're not that person in real life."She further stated, "Honestly, I haven't reached that stage in my career where I can say, 'I won't do this or that.' I'm not talking about compromising on values, but in terms of work, I'm here to learn, grow, and perform. As actors, we're handed a script and told, 'This is the scene, this is your outfit,' and it's our job to deliver, keeping the director's vision in mind. After all, we're part of someone else's project - if we all had our own vision, we'd be the directors or creators ourselves."advertisementShe added, "That said, there are moments when you can suggest tweaks or share your thoughts. For instance, with my character in the film, we'd have discussions like, 'It's coming across this way, can we try doing it that way instead?' And the director was always open. He even asked me once if I was comfortable doing a particular scene. So those conversations do happen. Like I said, everyone has their own journey, and I personally haven't faced anything uncomfortable so far."'Housefull 5' is having a great run in theatres.Must Watch