Nushrratt Bharuccha has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood through grit, talent and sheer perseverance. Starting her career with smaller roles and working her way up through films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and the horror franchise Chhorii, she has become one of the industry’s most dependable female leads. Despite her steady rise, she remains vocal about the unequal treatment women continue to face in Indian cinema, both on-screen and off-screen.
In a recent interview, Nushrratt addressed the rampant gender disparity in Bollywood. She recounted how, even today, female actors often receive fewer opportunities than their male counterparts. According to her, the moment a male actor delivers a hit, he is instantly offered multiple scripts, regardless of whether he is an insider or outsider.
Meanwhile, women are left hoping for just a few options to choose from after a successful film. She expressed frustration that this dynamic hasn’t shifted much, despite years of progress and conversation around equality. Reflecting on her own journey since Pyaar Ka Punchnama in 2011, she emphasised that all the female actors really want is the chance to choose their path, not overnight stardom, just fair options.
Nushrratt didn’t shy away from highlighting the skewed treatment on film sets either. She revealed that even basic amenities reflect this bias. Vanity vans and washrooms allocated to male stars are often superior to those given to women. She remembered times when she had to politely request access to a hero’s vacant vanity van, simply to use the washroom. But instead of expressing anger or resentment, she channeled that moment into motivation. She resolved to reach a place in her career where she wouldn’t need to ask for such privileges, she would be given them by default.
Sharing another incident from her early career, Nushrratt recalled an international shoot where all the lead actors were given business class tickets while she was placed in economy despite being part of the film. She was seated alongside the assistants of technicians while the main cast flew comfortably. Friends in business class invited her to sit with them but she declined, determined to earn that seat herself one day, not through favor but as a right. She says that today she mostly travels in business class but only because the production house now acknowledges her status and includes it as part of her contract.
Most recently, she appeared in Chhorii 2, a horror sequel directed by Vishal Furia, where she starred alongside Soha Ali Khan and Gashmeer Mahajani. The film is currently streaming on Prime Video. While she hasn’t announced her next project yet, Nushrratt continues to champion her space in the industry, not just as an actor but as a voice for equality and dignity in the workplace.
