Soha Ali Khan, who recently appeared in the film Chhorii 2, spoke candidly about the struggles her foremothers endured to carve out space for themselves and for future generations. She shared, “My grandmother wanted to do a MA in Bengal, but she was not allowed to, because men went away and were allowed to study and pursue higher education. Women were simply not allowed to. But she persisted, fought that battle, it cost her Rs 50 to do her MA. Her father said I’ll give you a Banarsi saree for 50 bucks, but she insisted on studying. She was the first woman in our family, one of the first women in Bengal to do a MA.”
She also reflected on her mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, and the societal pressures she faced. “She was asked her whole life how did your husband allow you to work, to be an actress, as it was considered good girls don’t end up being actresses.” Soha noted how the paths paved by the women before her allowed her to live with far fewer constraints. “I got married at the age of 36. Very late in the day… but nobody ever questioned. I went to Oxford, I did an MA., and they were always excited and encouraging. Even the fact that I choose to have a child much later in life.”
Despite these advancements, she acknowledged that outdated expectations still persist, even in privileged and educated circles. “Even today, in affluent families, well-educated families, there is still an expectation that you don’t have a son, there is a feeling that you are incomplete. I have a daughter, I’m very happy, most people around me are very happy. But there is still a sense somewhere that I have disappointed somebody.”
Soha also addressed the constant scrutiny her family faces from the media and public. “I have gotten a bit thick-skinned, it doesn’t bother me. But one thing that amuses me is how when I post something, people start commenting upon my religion. Because I have married into a Hindu family, my mother has a Hindu surname and she married a Muslim person. Usually if we post something on Diwali, they are like how many rozas have you kept, if we post on Holi, there are comments reading what kind of Muslim you are? It doesn’t bother me, but it is something that I do notice.”
She attributed this culture of criticism to deeper societal conditioning. She observed that people often find joy in tearing others down: “We get happiness by bitching about people.”
