I said no to slapping women, objectifying them on screen: Siddharth
![siddharth Actor Siddharth. Photo: Instagram](https://img.onmanorama.com/content/dam/mm/en/entertainment/entertainment-news/images/2025/1/29/siddharth.jpg?w=1120&h=583)
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Actor Siddharth has always carved his own path in cinema, consciously distancing himself from the hyper-masculine roles that dominate mainstream films. Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, he opened up about his career choices in a candid conversation with singer Vidya Rao, who is also the mother of his wife, Aditi Rao Hydari. Siddharth reflected on his decision to reject roles that promoted toxic masculinity, even if they promised commercial success.
Recalling the kind of scripts he was offered, he shared, “There were roles where I had to slap women, dance in item numbers, objectify female characters, and dictate what a woman should or shouldn’t do. Some of these scripts were written well and could have been massive hits, but I turned them down. If I had been wired differently, I might have been a much bigger star today. But I always followed my instincts.”
Siddharth also spoke about how his choices have resonated with audiences over the years. “People now tell me, ‘You were respectful to women, a good son, a caring friend, and you looked cute on screen.’ Their children are watching my films from 15 years ago, and that’s incredibly fulfilling. It’s not something that can be measured in box office numbers. At a time when everyone around me was trying to appear tough and emotionless—following the ‘Mard ko dard nahi hota’ (real men don’t feel pain) mindset—I had no hesitation in shedding tears on screen.”
By consistently rejecting regressive portrayals, Siddharth has built a career that stands apart, proving that sensitivity and depth have a place in cinema, even in an industry often fixated on larger-than-life heroes.