Anupama actor Sudhanshu Pandey: Last few years the ratio of progressive women characters have increased

Female characters on TV have evolved considerably. Stories have become realistic, and so are the parts. Actor Sudhanshu Pandey, who plays the leading role in the popular female-fronted show Anupama, shares his opinion.

“Female roles have always been evolving on television. There are some roles which are difficult, and probably taking the right turn. But there are other parts that have been very progressive. Last few years I think the ratio of progressive women characters has increased considerably and that’s a very good sign,” he says.

About TV shows that he feels have rightly highlighted women empowerment, Sudhanshu adds, “The first memory of strongest women empowerment that I saw was Balika Vadhu and that started the trend again in a big way if I am not wrong. I don’t know very much about television and today I am part of Anupama, which is my first daily soap. So I don’t think I have too much experience of knowing what has been on television or not.”

Infinite shows such as Anupama, Bhabhi Ji.. have created history and set role models like that of Shanti, Swabhimaan, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kkusum Heena. 

“We have been lucky and God has been very kind. The characters of Anupama, Shanti in Swabhiman, Heena are legendary and people still remember them. It’s sheer luck and hard work of producers, writers, directors, actors and the technical team, who made sure that the characters could become legendary. And these characters are strong enough to influence people to such an extent that they get inspired by them and consider them as their role models,” he says.

Sudhanshu shares that women get influenced by these strong onscreen characters and consider them as their heroes. “That is how showbiz works. People try to copy or follow their favourite characters. It is important to create characters that influence people and take them in the right direction. A lot of filmmakers do that and the biggest example is Anupama that showcases how you can make lives better, especially that of the female tribe,” he ends.