Original subtitles

You've done so much, and I've been thinking, where should I start this

conversation from? But let's start with your first, love if I may, movies.

You've done some big banner films, and you've done some films with very

meaningful and serious roles for women.

Would you like to do more of that? Do you think there's enough being done to

represent women and to represent she -shakti in our films?

I feel like things are...

You know, from the time I started, I really feel like things have been

for good.

So yeah, a lot more really, really meaty roles have been written for women now.

A lot many films led by women are being written.

A lot many, as you said, meaningful films and roles and content has been

written. So I'm glad I've had the opportunity to do some of them.

I always feel as an actor, you can't just be one thing.

You know, you have to sort of entertain all kinds of audiences. You have to do

all kinds of genres.

You have to have fun with the acting part of it and do all kinds of roles.

And I've never been someone who wanted to just be put in a box.

I don't want to be like, oh, if it's her film, then it must be this kind of a

film. I want to surprise the audiences. I want to surprise myself every time I

choose something.

Also, I kind of can get bored very easily. So I want to every time do

different.

So yeah, I think it's always going to be a mixed bag of the films.

But with that, I also know the value that I get on the table as an actor. And

know that I'm also very hungry. So even if it's a big banner film, I want to

still make a mark.

So I need that from the character.

I don't think it's possible to put you in a box. You've experimented and how.

The other topic, and you were talking about the gender pay gap, and it's

everywhere, including in the film industry.

As someone who is in the top rung now, how do you deal with that? How do you

to address that?

Actually, you know, considering all the other industries, I don't understand why

the pay parity is there.

Because for a certain kind of role, certain kind of job, whether you're a

or a female, it shouldn't matter. And, you know, the pay should be same.

In the films, yes, we've been having this conversation for a very, very long

time. And trust me, it pinches us more than anyone else.

The huge gap in the payment of a male and a female actor.

But I feel like it's a circle because I feel that...

The fee of any actor is sort of related to how many audiences can you pull into

the theatre on your name on day one.

Unfortunately, there are very few films that are, much fewer films, I would say,

that are led by women than men.

Even if it's a film led by a woman, I feel it's not scaled at the same

budget as...

you know, a film that is led by a man would be.

But that's also because the producers are scared that it's not going to get as

much money back.

So I think it's a circle where, you know, the female lead films don't end up

making as much money as the male lead films.

And then it is like, oh, you know, that's why his fee is more and her fee

less. So I feel like it's changing slowly.

I like the fact that

Films working is no longer dependent on male or female. It's dependent on

content.

When a film led by three women crew ended up working and entertaining

it gave me hope.

It felt like, okay, you know, when it's a female -led film, it doesn't

necessarily have to be a serious subject. You can also have fun. You can

entertain people. You can also, you know, have these big locations and have

budget. And I feel that things will change only when some people,

the producers obviously, have the heart to take the

risk. Take risk on the subject, not who's leading it.

So I feel like when there are more producers who put in that much money on

female -led film, be confident of the content, you know, and it will get the

money back and things will change then.

So it's a slow process, but yeah, it's possible.

I think this is a message for filmmakers and producers.

Make big bets on women and the audience.

Absolutely, yes.

Speaking of bets, you've made many yourself. You started off with

then you became an actor, now you're an entrepreneur. What is it that keeps you

going? Is it just a risk -taking appetite or is it because, like you

get bored and you want to do something else?

Yeah, I feel like I want to do something different, something new, you know,

keep my...

sort of that inner child alive who wants to learn something new.

I didn't know how to act. I didn't know if I could act.

It's something that I've learned on the job. I discovered a passion for it and I

kind of played on it and I, you know, tried to get better with every film.

Same goes for, you know, being an entrepreneur.

It started with just being passionate about skincare, not really realizing

I could start a brand. It was just, I was just so obsessed with skincare that

was ordering products left, right, center, and I was hoarding products at

That too in COVID.

And I, being an engineer, I kind of go so into something when I really, really,

you know, like it. So I was like reading ingredients, getting to the science

behind it.

And then I was also simultaneously finding myself ordering from abroad, you

know, and I was like, why?

Like, I feel like there's a gap in the market where why am I supposed to have

like one niacinamide serum and then one vitamin C and then one this and one

hyaluronic acid? Why can't things that help you in one problem be put in one

bottle, you know?

Why can't my SPF also hydrate me? Why do I need a moisturizer?

So I like... I want to keep life simpler. I like, people want to do like

fast. So this I felt like was a gap where quality and also affordability,

know, especially in India, Indian skin being so different.

And I felt like I wanted to create something that I could also use and that

girl living in Patparganj in Delhi could also use.

But how do you see women leading businesses, especially in the beauty

And there are a lot of very promising brands and entrepreneurs who are being

talked about.

You are, of course, one of them. And your brand is doing very well. It's

about 400 crore rupees in just two years. So that's fantastic.

But this is an interesting space to be in.

Absolutely. And I feel like women have this problem -solving attitude.

You know, we see a problem, we find a solution to it. We never look at a

as just a problem. The moment we see any problem, we're like, how can we solve

it? You know, we have this attitude, we have this ability.

And I feel like that is so important in being an entrepreneur.

I feel like you've got to be able to find solutions to any roadblock, to any

problem that comes in. And you always have to have the patience and the drive

keep going.

And yeah, I'm really, really happy that so many women are actually doing so well

in this field and many more. Women can also spot a problem and that's also what

you need to be an entrepreneur because you have to solve something. And they

should be able to take criticism, you know. It's very important to take

in anything.

Like I feel...

In our brand also, when we launched, of course, you can't be perfect all the

time. You have to know that you're human.

And it's okay. And I love it when someone gives me feedback that I didn't

this. I really, really like it. Because that's the only way to make your product

better. And I feel like, you know, we launched two years back. We started with

three products.

And, of course, we were also a little cautious.

There was a serum that we kind of, you know.

put some ingredients in, but we didn't increase the percentage because we were

scared how would it react to people's skin.

And we got so much of feedback after that on our sunscreen, on our serum.

And we have actually taken all the feedback, made the product better and

back with a reformulated product instead of saying that we made it good, you

didn't understand.

So I think that's not the attitude.

I think it is, you have to be good listeners. Women are also good

also feel.

You have to be good listeners, you have to take feedback and you have to work on

it and get back better.

So yeah, probably that's the reason why women are doing well.

On the listener part, did you notice the radio silence?

Yeah, good listeners, you know. There's no like chitter -chatter happening, you

know what I mean?

Yeah, right.

No, so you sound like you're pretty hands -on as an entrepreneur. And of

you're doing very well as an actor. And you must have a very good ability to

manage time to be able to do both these things fabulously.

Is that something that you're good at? Okay, as much as time management is not

my strongest point, I would say.

But I've realized that when you're really passionate about something, that

comes.

You know, when otherwise I would be really, really bad at time management,

always 15 minutes late.

It is like punctually late by 15 minutes.

But when it comes to things that I'm really passionate about, I'm there. You

know, and I know that. So I feel when it comes to hyphen and, you know, my

acting work, I don't even get to know how I divide the time. It just happens.

When I finish my day of shoot, I come back. My group of hyphen ends up getting

messages at like between 11 and 1 at night.

So suddenly their phones are like pinging at night because I'm done with

actor's job and now I'm there.

I go back home, I see samples of the products that, you know, we want to

I'm trying that out with my night skincare routine.

I give my feedback. If I'm traveling somewhere, I find a way for the products

reach me somehow.

Even on a holiday, I have done Zoom calls, product calls, marketing calls.

think you find a way when you're really passionate about something and you know

it's important because it's important to you.

You've also invested in property. You've recently invested in one of the most

expensive penthouses in Bandra.

Kudos to you for doing that.

But what does real estate mean to you as a woman? Is it just about security?

Is it about independence?

Or is it just a lifestyle choice?

Firstly, the news travels so fast. It's not even been a week.

Like, seriously. You're in the business of dash, dash, dash. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It really travels fast with like all numbers out and all. I'm like, what's

on? I just signed it.

But yeah, real estate, I feel, you know, it's such a debate. Like people keep

telling me, in this day and age, investing in a property is not cool.

it doesn't, the math doesn't, you know, it doesn't calculate well.

Staying on rent is better. You should always stay on rent.

And honestly, I've been staying on rent since, even though I have.

a property.

But when my parents moved to Mumbai with me, I kind of realized I needed a

bigger space. And then I started staying on rent because I was like, yeah, it

makes more sense.

But sometimes I feel like stability is very important.

You know, you need to, like, I don't like, I like a home being home. I don't

like changing my home again and again.

Especially with parents, I feel that stability is very important.

And for me, buying a house, I actually have a manifestation

book, you know, a notebook where I write like what I really want to do, what I

want to achieve. It could be different things. It could also be traveling to a

particular place or whatever.

And I have written there that I want to, actually I have written I want to own a

bungalow with a garden where my mom and dad can have chai. Because my mom very

long back told me I want to have chai in a garden in a bungalow.

Now, in Mumbai, honestly, bungalow is very, like, it's impossible.

It's, like, very, very difficult.

So, yeah, for now, this is a version of the bungalow.

At least it has a garden. That was one of my main things, that it needs to have

a little bit of a garden, at least for them to sit and have chai.

So, yeah, it's my dream, which I've pick -marked, and I'm proud of it, and I'm

happy that it's finally happened.

I think that's fantastic.

I think...

Financial independence and stability is what women should aim for. And having a

house has a whole different kick. Yeah.

Whole different feeling to it. And, you know, home is home, yeah. It needs to

feel like home.

The other thing I want you to talk about, Chrissy, because you're such a

model, is fitness.

And in our society in particular, but women in general tend to...

not focus on themselves, their time, their physical health, their mental

You focus on fitness a lot for your roles and otherwise. So what would you

to tell them? Why is this so important?

Firstly, I completely agree with you. I feel like women don't focus on

themselves. I feel they put themselves last.

It's everyone else first and then them.

And this attitude genuinely needs to change because unless and until you're

happy, you're healthy, you're in your best shape, you cannot help or make

else's life better.

So it's very important and as you age, it's just equally important to start

really giving yourself time, whether it's your body or your mind, whether

whatever works for you, any form of workout.

It could be just a walk. It could be yoga. It could be meditation.

That's definitely not a workout. That's mental health.

So it's very, very important. I keep telling my mom also, it's very hard to

her sometimes.

You know, and your body is your instrument. If tomorrow some part stops

it's going to completely change your life.

So you have to make sure that you keep all the parts moving.

They need to be moving.

I keep pushing my mom and sometimes I become a monitor and the...

monitor of the house where I'm like, send me 10 ,000 steps today.

You know, like, and she, there was a time she actually used to send me, now

she's stopped.

So, yeah, I'm still trying to motivate her and push her to do any form of, like

walking. I think we've all stopped walking in general.

You mentioned feedback and in this day and age with social media, with so much

communication and comments and with your very, very public

How do you deal with what happens on social media and the kind of barrage of

comments that I'm sure you get, the kind of feedback that you get, good, bad,

ugly, all of it? Does it bother you? Does it affect you personally? Or do you

say that this comes with a role and, yeah, well, haters will be haters. Let's

move on.

Yeah, I think the last bit.

I don't actually, I don't pay heed at all to comments and what people are

because I feel like I feel like someone's taking their own life on

you know, so I don't really take it seriously.

I feel that if I don't know you, am I really going to respond to what you say

you say something nasty to me? No.

So no, I don't. I feel social media, I try and use it for the good part of it,

which is I like connecting with my fans. I like connecting with people beyond

just them.

So it's nice to just have a constant connection with your fans.

you know, the social media platform.

But other than that, I feel like no one's really going to remember you for

social media, you know. But, you know, is there pressure to be always perfect?

Because these days, film stars are clicked everywhere, going into a gym,

out of a gym, going to a salon, going into an airport. Like, you know, when it

all started, I think, yeah, everyone was like, oh, no, no, no, I'm going to, if

paps are there, I need to be looking perfect. But I think beyond the point,

we're used to it.

So now it doesn't really matter much. Now it's okay. Like you move around like

you move around. I think it's very difficult to fake it for very long. And

life, you can't. Like we're already doing so much on screen.

You're being a completely different person. So if in life also you're a

different person, it's just, it's too much work.

Nobody's paying you for that.

So I think I like, actually I really, really like keeping my social media

I don't ever...

So many times, you know, we have our digital team and they'll be like, oh, ma

'am, this song is trending.

And I'm like, but I don't like it.

So you have to be very you, I think.

Otherwise, everyone's going to end up being the same on social media. People

losing identities, you know, I feel.

And that's so important to just be you.

I feel I use social media like a tool. For me, it's not a destination at all.

I feel people, I want people to remember me for my work.

You know, so that is my main focus. Of course, social media is an added tool

where I can connect with them. But no one's going to remember what I post, you

know, after like two years. So, yeah. I think that's a very healthy approach and

good advice for everyone who is on social media.

What advice do you have for young women, especially those who want to break

barriers, who want to make a career in films or otherwise? And you've done

remarkably well for somebody who was an outsider in an industry which is

infamous for being tough.

on outsiders.

You've really shattered feelings and how.

So what do you want to tell them?

I just feel like it all starts with your why.

Why do you want to do what you want to do? You want to be an actor? Why do you

want to be an actor? So you need to know your why.

You need to really be passionate about it and there is no shortcut.

Nothing comes easy. There are no free lunches.

You have to work hard towards it.

And what is also very, very important is not to give up because there will be,

especially when you don't come from a film background, no one's giving you

anything on a platter.

There will be so many people, you know, telling you why it's too big a dream,

why it can't happen, why, you know, contact is needed, connections are

or what is wrong with you, you know, you're too short, you're too tall,

too thin, you're not, you know, in the right shape, whatever.

I feel people are going to tell you what's wrong with you. No one's really

to tell you that you can do it other than you.

So I feel you really need to be very, very driven, passionate

and patient.

Because it will come when the time is right. But you have to keep working on

yourself. I think that's what's the most important thing. The years that you get

before you crack that film.

And don't feel like, oh, my God, it's taking so long. Just have a different

approach. Maybe it's taking so long because you need that time to work on

get better.

So it will happen when the time is right. I promise you that. But you have

at it.

Sounds so simple but so hard to follow. I know we are pressed for time.

Quick rapid fire.

Okay. I'll try and be as rapid as I can. Yes. One thing you can't live without.

My family.

I can't live without it. First big purchase you made with your own money?

First big purchase, I think first big one was a car that I bought, which was

a second -handed car at that point.

Yeah, it was a second -hand car. It was a second -hand car in Mumbai when I was

staying alone and I had, my father also moved back to Delhi, so I needed to

like drive myself and I...

Yes, that was the most expensive initial purchase.

Real estate or startups, what excites you more today?

Startups.

One misconception people have about Kriti Sanan, that she doesn't eat

She is always on a diet.

You know, I think a lot of people, when they see me, they are like, please, you

don't eat anything.

No, I am a full Punjabi. I love food.

I live to eat. I don't eat to live. So, that's the difference. So, yeah.

I don't know how you manage that, but yeah.

She shook her head like she doesn't believe me at all.

But yeah.

I mean, touch wood, I'm blessed with good metabolism, which I know is going

go off with age.

But till I can enjoy it, I will. You should. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for being so candid, so forthright, and for inspiring so many

people, Priti. Thank you so much. Thank you.

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