Sanya Malhotra-starrer Mrs is earning widespread praise all over social media, the film is about a newlywed woman, Richa, a dancer, who navigates the suffocating patriarchy in traditional Indian joint families and the challenges faced by women in arranged marriages. Amid criticism over Mrs, Kangana Ranaut urged people to stop generalising Indian joint families and demonising elderly people. She also opposed comparing homemakers to paid labour and equating the joy of building a home and raising children with forced labour.
Without mentioning Mrs, Kangana Ranaut took to her Instagram story to share her perspective on Indian joint families, stating that growing up, she never saw a woman who didn’t command her household. She recalled how women decided when everyone ate, slept, and went out, and how they kept track of every penny their husbands spent, which they obliged. The actress further added that the only conflicts arose over men’s outings with friends and frequent drinking evenings.
Kangana further stated that marriages are not meant for seeking attention or validation but are in the best interest of those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly and newborns, as both are helpless. Citing the shashtras, she said that previous generations fulfilled their duties toward their parents and elders without questioning them—they simply did what was required.
“Too many Bollywood love stories have distorted the ideas of marriages, marriages should be how it has always been in this country, it always had a purpose and the purpose was Dharma which essentially means duty. That’s it, do your duty. That’s it, do your duty and move on, life is too short and fast, if you try to get too much validation or footage you will end up alone with your therapist,” she added.
The actress urged people not to endorse divorce as a nation, stating that one must remain rooted in ancient wisdom to achieve future goals.
“Shashtras says there is no joy in other human being, there is no joy in success, wealth, marriage/in being single or in any other worldly pleasure, they never said these things can satisfy a human being, true joy lies in being united with paramaatma, if you seek joy look for it in the right place, rest every where else do your duty don’t try to extract joy, trust me it’s not even there but by limited perception let’s not dismantle social institutions like marriages, our biggest strengths our joint families, let’s not endorse divorces, let’s not encourage younger generations to abandon older parents, or not have babies.”