Afwaah | Bhumi Pednekar: I will continue to do socially relevant films

Since her Bollywood debut in 2015 with the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha, the audience has noticed how actress Bhumi Pednekar has quite interestingly picked up stories that address social issues and the stigma that we face in our lives.

During a special interactive session with veteran film critic Rajeev Masand at the FICCI Frames 2023 on Thursday morning, the actress opened up on why she wants to associate herself with such films as well as the impact of cinema in common people's lives that she noticed.

Asked about choosing films with social messages, Bhumi said, "If I really want to see change, I have to be part of the solution, and from my first film, I am doing such kinds of characters. Initially, I thought that these films were just coming my way, but the truth of the matter is that these are my choices. I feel great about the fact that my job as an actor gives me the chance to give back to society and tell stories that are socially relevant. I think a lot of it comes from my upbringing. When I see the impact (of those films) on the larger section of society, it gives me immense pride and pleasure, so I feel like I will always continue to do socially relevant films."

"Having said that, I also enjoy doing Pati Patni Aur Woh and some of the films that are coming up in the near future because I also want to feel entertained when I am filming the story. So even if it is a Bala, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, or Saand Ki Aankh, all these films have a certain amount of humour to them even though they convey some serious message," further added the actress known for films like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Badhaai Do, to name a few.

The actress was also asked about the kind of impact she has observed around her since the release of her film. Bhumi pointed out, "If I specifically talk about Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, which I believe is one of my career-defining films, when the script came to me, India was not 'open defecation free' then; we were at a staggering 55 percent. With various social campaigns, all the government agencies were trying their best to create awareness. But when a film like Badhaai Do came out, we saw a mindset change among people, especially in small villages where, after watching the film, they realised that it was their right to have access to sanitization and to have a toilet in their home. Such a thing makes us feel proud; the film was massively celebrated globally, and that was the first time I felt the power of cinema."

The actor also mentioned that she received some important messages from youngsters about their story of "coming out of the closet" after the release of Badhaai Do.

Bhumi will be next seen in the Sudhir Mishra-directed film titled Afwaah, which also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and releases on May 5 in theatres.