Veteran Bollywood actress Tabu has candidly spoken about the gender disparity women continue to face in the film industry, particularly regarding ageing and professional expectations.
The actress recently reflected on how women in Bollywood are often judged more for their age than their work, while also revealing how she handles film offers she does not connect with creatively.
During a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar India, the Haider actress opened up about the constant focus placed on women’s age in the entertainment industry.
“People are more worried about your age than you are yourself,” Tabu said while discussing the pressures faced by ageing actresses in Bollywood.
She further explained that women are frequently reminded about growing older, despite experiencing the process naturally every day.
“They want to show you the mirror, as though you don’t have one at home. The person answering that question hasn’t aged overnight. We experience it every single day,” she added.
Actress speaks about industry diplomacy
The Drishyam star also revealed that she has often been advised to avoid giving honest reasons for rejecting films.
According to Tabu, people in the industry encouraged her to politely blame scheduling conflicts instead of openly admitting she disliked a script.
“You should not give a real reason for not doing a film. Give the excuse of dates and walk away,” she shared.
However, the actress admitted she never fully understood that approach and preferred being direct about her choices.
“If I don’t like the script, I don’t like it. And I said so,” Tabu added.
Upcoming projects
Tabu was last seen in Bhooth Bangla and is now preparing for Nagarjuna Akkineni’s 100th film, King100.
The actress also began shooting for director Naveen (Ra) Karthik’s upcoming project in April 2026.
