Mumbai: Actor Diana Penty has highlighted the film industry’s attitude towards female actors, particularly the trend of casting women in their 30s as mothers of multiple children, focusing on looks rather than abilities.
Focus on appearance over talent
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Diana expressed concern over the industry’s emphasis on women’s physical appearance. She said:
“When you are introduced on stage, for example, the adjectives are always ‘the most stunning’, ‘the most beautiful’. It lacks depth. As a woman, you’d hope it goes beyond that.”
She added that while compliments on looks are appreciated, recognition for craft and performance is equally important:
“You hope that as an actor, you can be known not just for that, but also for your craft and your performance. There is so much more to us. To only be called beautiful, stunning, or effervescent is great, but not enough.”
Accepting the status quo
Diana also discussed how female actors navigate these entrenched norms. She said she does not actively fight against the system but makes conscious choices about the roles she takes:
“It’s not a fight but something we don’t even bother getting into. I have never fought this, but made my own decisions about whether I want to be a part of something like that or not. That is the best way to deal with it.”
Upcoming project
Diana stars in the upcoming web series ‘Do You Wanna Partner’, streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series features actors Tamannaah Bhatia, Jaaved Jaaferi, Nakuul Mehta, Shweta Tiwari, Neeraj Kabi, and others. Directed by Collin D’Cunha and Archit Kumar, the show is co-produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, with a writing team led by Nandini Gupta, Aarsh Vora, and Mithun Gongopadhyay.
The series aims to showcase engaging narratives with strong ensemble performances, reflecting the evolving landscape of Indian web content.