Siddharth reveals he could have become a big star if he had not rejected roles where he had to 'slap women' and 'pinch navels'
etimes.in | Jan 31, 2025, 12.24 AM IST
Actor Siddharth recently attended the Hyderabad Literary Festival and engaged in an insightful conversation with renowned singer and author Vidya Rao, the mother of his wife, Aditi Rao Hydari. The discussion delved into several aspects of both cinema and literature, but one topic, in particular, caught attention, where the ‘Indian 2’ actor spoke about toxic masculinity.
Siddharth expressed his intention to avoid playing such roles, emphasising his deliberate choices in selecting projects. “I used to get scripts where I’m slapping women, doing item songs, pinching somebody’s navel, telling a woman what she should do, where she should go, etc... I rejected them outright. Of course, I might be a far bigger movie star today if I was differently wired. I instinctively did what I liked,” he admitted.
The actor expressed pride in the positive impact he's had on his audience, particularly for being respectful towards women, good to his parents, and kind to children. He finds it fulfilling that his films, made 15 years ago, are still appropriate for younger generations to watch, reinforcing the lasting, positive impression he's made over the years.
Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining this approach, he acknowledged that it wasn’t without its difficulties. He reflected that the sense of satisfaction he feels can’t be quantified in monetary terms. While those around him were focused on portraying aggression and machismo, with many adopting the “men don’t feel pain” attitude, he was content expressing vulnerability by crying on screen.
Over the course of his 20-year career, Siddharth has chosen roles that showcase his versatility, focusing on stories that challenge the conventional idea of a commercial hero.
Currently, the actor is awaiting the release of 'Test', a Tamil romantic film, alongside Nayanthara and R Madhavan.
Siddharth expressed his intention to avoid playing such roles, emphasising his deliberate choices in selecting projects. “I used to get scripts where I’m slapping women, doing item songs, pinching somebody’s navel, telling a woman what she should do, where she should go, etc... I rejected them outright. Of course, I might be a far bigger movie star today if I was differently wired. I instinctively did what I liked,” he admitted.
The actor expressed pride in the positive impact he's had on his audience, particularly for being respectful towards women, good to his parents, and kind to children. He finds it fulfilling that his films, made 15 years ago, are still appropriate for younger generations to watch, reinforcing the lasting, positive impression he's made over the years.
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Reflecting on the challenges of maintaining this approach, he acknowledged that it wasn’t without its difficulties. He reflected that the sense of satisfaction he feels can’t be quantified in monetary terms. While those around him were focused on portraying aggression and machismo, with many adopting the “men don’t feel pain” attitude, he was content expressing vulnerability by crying on screen.
Over the course of his 20-year career, Siddharth has chosen roles that showcase his versatility, focusing on stories that challenge the conventional idea of a commercial hero.
Currently, the actor is awaiting the release of 'Test', a Tamil romantic film, alongside Nayanthara and R Madhavan.