Exclusive! Four More Shots Please! Season 3's Bani J: Gender discrimination is a reality

VJ-turned-actress Bani J, who is one of the four leading ladies of the web series Four More Shots Please!, season 3 of which released recently, tells us that the show has added to the women's empowerment movement. She explains why in a developing country like India, the visible change is slow when it comes to gender equality.

The story of the show revolves around four women — Anjana, Siddhi, Damini and Umang — who are urban and independent, and constantly deal with some struggle or the other in their personal and professional lives as they break social norms and live life on their own terms.

Bani told OTTplay, "There is a positive change (when it comes to women empowerment), but in a developing country like ours, change is painfully slow. In our society, we have a lot of deep-rooted issues and gender rules that we have been struggling with that have been practiced for ages. Having said that, women are now more empowered to stand up for their rights, and we have the courage to speak against injustice. Earlier, even that wasn't happening. In that context, our show is one where women from various backgrounds show how empowered they are. In reality, women who are independent and educated also face gender inequality in every part of their lives. Any form of discrimination is not okay. Voices should be raised for the right reasons."

In the show, Anjana Menon, played by Kirti Kulhari, is a lawyer who deals with gender politics at the workplace.

Using that as an example, Bani added, "Gender politics at the workplace is a reality. We have shown that in our show, but otherwise also, I know in production houses, for instance, some areas are male-dominated. On one hand, it is good to see that women's representation is increasing, but on the other, it is true that women still face discrimination at the workplace."

The actress also believes that the more we bring such stories into the mainstream, the more we will be able to see a change in practice.

Four More Shots Please! Season 3, which also stars Prateik Babbar and Jim Sarbh, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.