Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia, who has returned as a Gang Leader in the 21st edition of the youth reality show “Roadies”, has spoken about gender equality on the show, saying she has never believed in defining people by their gender.
In an interaction with IANS, Neha said “Roadies” provides female contestants with a platform to openly share their stories, opinions and experiences without making them feel less powerful than their male counterparts.
Asked how she remains confident in an environment often dominated by male energy, Neha attributed it to her upbringing and outlook.
“It’s because I, in my head, don’t have any gender biases. Like, I haven’t been raised thinking that a girl can do this and only a boy can do this,” she said.
Neha added that she does not believe in treating people differently based on whether they are boys or girls, while stressing the importance of respecting everyone around her.
The actress said she has personally never felt surrounded by gender inequality and considers this approach important when interacting with contestants on the show.
“I’ve never been in a situation where I feel that, you know, I’m surrounded by people where there’s any inequality of gender. And that’s been my biggest voice, even when it comes to the contestants, where I know they come with their stories and I respect that,” she said.
Neha acknowledged that many female contestants speak about being raised differently because they are girls. However, she said “Roadies” gives them the opportunity to present their perspectives without their gender becoming a limitation.
She said the show does not advocate treating contestants as less or more powerful based on gender, but instead seeks to make everyone feel equal.
According to Neha, the platform allows contestants to put forward their experiences and viewpoints on an equal footing, regardless of whether they are women in a predominantly male environment.
