Actress Jyothika, known for her performances in the Tamil and Hindi cinema recently shared her insights of the struggles she faced as an actress in the film industry. In an interview, while promoting her new project Dabba Cartel, she candidly spoke about how age and motherhood significantly made a change in her career in Kollywood.
The Impact Of Ageism In Tamil Cinema
Jyothika highlighted a major concern in the Tamil film industry, and how actresses often stop receiving lead roles as they grow older. She revealed that after turning 28 and becoming a mother, she was no longer cast alongside mainstream male actors in Tamil films.
“In fact, I think I haven’t worked with a star or a hero after 28. It’s a huge challenge because then you are building your career entirely with new directors, on your own. It’s all about the age factor”, said the actress.
She emphasized that while this may not be a universal issue across all the film industries, Tamil cinema in particular presents hurdles for female actors who wish to maintain a long-term career.
Beyond age-related bias, Jyotika also pointed out another critical challenge, the lack of films that focus on strong female characters. She explained that during her early years in the industry, very few filmmakers were willing to create movies centered around women’s narratives. According to her, the cinema has traditionally been dominated by male centric stories.
“I don’t think we had a major filmmaker create a film for a female lead. I think that’s something we are truly lacking. We are budget-restricted. That’s a significant challenge-age being one and the second being the lack of seasoned filmmakers telling from a woman’s perspective”.
She then explained for an actress, sustaining a career in the film industry can often feel like a lonely battle with limited support and opportunities.
A Hope For Change
Despite these challenges, Jyothika continued to make her mark in the industry by working with emerging directors. Over the years, she had starred in several acclaimed films that break this stereotype, proving that strong performances can shine without mainstream backing.
Currently, Jyothika has been promoting her upcoming project, Dabba Carel. Her statements serve an important conversation on gender representation and the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, where some actresses are beginning to voice similar concerns.
Sources: PinkVilla
