Bollywood’s latest feminist drama Mrs has set social media ablaze, drawing both applause and outrage for its hard-hitting portrayal of gender roles. While the film has been lauded for its raw and unfiltered depiction of a housewife’s struggles, it has also come under fire from SIFF (Save Indian Family Foundation), a men’s rights group accusing it of spreading ‘toxic feminism.’ But director Arati Kadav is not backing down.
Since its direct-to-OTT release, Mrs—a Bollywood remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen—has been making headlines. Co-written by Harman Baweja and Anu Singh Choudhary, the film unpacks the silent suffering of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage. However, SIFF slammed both the filmmakers and lead actor Sanya Malhotra, arguing that the movie exaggerates everyday household chores as ‘oppression.’
Kadav, addressing the controversy in a recent interview, dismissed these claims outright. “This is not toxic feminism. We didn’t portray men as villains—we showed them as oblivious to a woman’s struggles, blind to her humanity. This is reality, not an exaggeration.”
Drawing from personal experience, she reflected, “Even my own mother went through this. Until a few years ago, I would come home and say, ‘Mama, can’t you do this?’ without ever asking about her dreams or what she wanted. We’ve normalized treating women as ‘functions’ rather than individuals. That’s the real issue.”
Responding to SIFF’s claim that “women see workplaces as air-conditioned offices while ignoring labor-intensive jobs like construction,” Kadav fired back, “The difference is, those workers are paid for their labor. If men feel exploited in those jobs, that’s wrong, but it doesn’t erase what women face at home.”
She further challenged ingrained stereotypes, emphasizing, “The idea that a woman’s sole purpose is to run a household while her own needs remain secondary has been deeply ingrained in society. Anyone calling this ‘toxic feminism’ should sit down and have an honest conversation with their mother about her struggles.”
Kadav also compared the debate to the ‘All Lives Matter’ argument, stating, “Saying ‘white lives matter’ when ‘black lives matter’ is being discussed doesn’t invalidate either, but one shouldn’t be used to silence the other.”
A Film That Refuses to Be Silenced
Whether Mrs is a wake-up call or an exaggerated portrayal depends on perspective, but one thing is undeniable—the film has struck a nerve. By refusing to sugarcoat hard-hitting truths, it has forced society to confront uncomfortable realities. Love it or hate it, Mrs isn’t just a movie—it’s a movement.