Actor, Suniel Shetty draws heavy criticism online for his sexist remark, and netizens slam him for saying wives should focus on raising children.
Despite significant progress being made towards gender equality, time and again, comments that reinforce traditional gender roles and are quite sexist in nature continue to surface in the media. Such statements, especially when made by beloved celebrities or public figures, invite immense backlash on social media platforms, and netizens do not shy away from confronting them. A similar incident recently occurred when Bollywood actor, Suniel Shetty made a controversial remark about parenting responsibilities during an interview, and fans were not happy.
In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Suniel Shetty shared his views on marriage and parenting. He commented on how relationships evolve after marriage and said that after a while, there has to be a compromise in a wedding. He said:
“Aaj kal bachon mein patience hai hi nahi. Shaadi kuch time ke baad ek samjhauta hota hai, where you have to understand each other, live for each other.”
Suniel then added that if a husband is busy building his career, it’s important for the wife to handle the child. Though he clarified that the husband would also be involved, his words still placed the main childcare responsibility on the wife. He could be quoted as saying:
“Phir ek bacha aata hai, aur patni ko yeh jaan na zaruri hai ki husband career banayega toh bache ko main dekh rahi hoon. Husband, of course, saath mein dekhega. Par aaj kal sab cheezon mein pressure bohot ho gaya hai.”
Suniel’s statement triggered an instant outrage on social media. Many users accused him of having a sexist and outdated mindset. “He needs to stop talking,” one person commented. Another commented, “Bhai apni image khud hi kharab kar raha hai. Sometimes silence is golden.” Several users pointed out that these views reflect a common generational problem where sexism is passed as tradition or practice.
Social media users were quick to call out Suniel and how damaging his remarks can be. Many highlighted that in modern households, both parents usually work and must equally share parenting duties. Some expressed disappointment, especially given Suniel’s previous controversial remarks, including one where he praised women who gave natural birth as being ‘warriors.’ “This is just male chauvinism dressed as wisdom. It’s not helpful, and it’s definitely not progressive,” one person commented.
The backlash comes at a time when Suniel Shetty is promoting his latest series, Hunter 2, which is now streaming on Amazon MX Player. In the show, he plays the role of 'ACP Vikram Sinha', a tough cop on a mission to save his kidnapped daughter. Ironically, the show features a storyline centred on fatherhood, many users point the irony and contrast between his reel and real-life persona.
What are your thoughts on comments made by Suniel Shetty?
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