"If She Was A Man, She'd Be Called Toxic": Snehlata Vasaikar Admits Bias Over Portrayal of Men and Women on TV

Vashikaranam has quietly carved its own space on television, standing apart from the usual storytelling patterns and offering something far more layered and unsettling. At the center of this shift is Suman, a character who does not seek approval or sympathy, but instead challenges the viewer at every step.

If Suman makes you uncomfortable, that reaction is very much intentional. As Snehlata Vasaikar explains, the character is written to disrupt, not to soothe. She is not designed to be easily understood or accepted, and that is exactly what makes her so compelling to watch.

In this segment of the conversation, the spotlight moves away from Suman’s internal motivations and focuses on how she is perceived by others, both within the story and by the audience. The discussion becomes less about what she does and more about how people react to her choices, her control, and her presence.

During an exclusive chat with India Forums, Snehlata addressed an interesting observation about television narratives. We asked her whether control is often viewed differently depending on gender, where a strong woman may be seen as intriguing while a man exhibiting the same traits could be labeled problematic. Her response digs into the nuances of perception and bias in a way that feels both honest and thought provoking.

Ending on a lighter note, the conversation also took a playful turn, with Snehlata imagining how Suman would behave in today’s social media driven world, adding an unexpected layer of fun to an otherwise intense discussion.

That’s a very interesting perspective, and I do think there is some truth to it. Audiences sometimes have subconscious biases that they may not even realise.

- Snehlata Vasaikar (as told to India Forums)

Q. One can argue that television sometimes glorifies control when it’s done by a strong woman and calls it toxic when a man does it. Do you think Suman would be judged differently if she were male?

That’s a very interesting perspective, and I do think there is some truth to it. Audiences sometimes have subconscious biases that they may not even realise.

If Suman were a male character, the conversation might be very different. It could lean more towards calling the behaviour dominant or even toxic without much hesitation.

But when a woman displays control, it is often seen as layered or intriguing. There is more curiosity around it.

For me, control is not about gender at all. It is about psychology. Whether it is a man or a woman, when control crosses a certain line, it becomes dangerous.

Suman is not just a character about control. She is a reflection of power and its impact on people and relationships.

Q. Finally, on a lighter note, if Suman had Instagram, would she be posting quotes… or controlling people silently in the DMs?

I think Suman would be very clever about it. On the surface, you might see composed, almost philosophical posts that don’t reveal too much about her.

She would maintain a certain image, something that looks calm and controlled from the outside.

But her real personality is very internal. She does not express everything openly. So I feel her real influence would happen quietly, behind the scenes.

She would not be someone chasing likes or attention. That is not who she is.

Her control would come from subtle interactions, private conversations, and understanding people without them even realising it.

What makes this take on Suman so interesting is how real it feels in today’s world. Influence no longer needs to be loud. Sometimes, the most powerful presence is the one that operates silently.

Suman continues to stand out because she refuses to be simplified. Through Snehlata’s lens, she becomes more than just a television character. She becomes a conversation about power, perception, and the way we choose to judge it.

And maybe that is why she stays with you. Not because of what she does, but because of what she makes you question about yourself.

Have you been an avid watcher of Vashikaranam so far? Let us know what have you thought about the show so far in the comments down below.