Bhumi Pednekar recently attended the International Film Festival Delhi 2026, where she shared her thoughts on how roles for women are changing in the entertainment industry. She said that while stories led by women seem to be reducing in mainstream cinema, OTT platforms are offering better and stronger opportunities for female actors.
Bhumi explained that digital platforms have created space for more meaningful storytelling. She said, “I feel with OTT, especially for women, the narrative has become a lot stronger because a lot of those shows, a lot of those films are led by women, which is maybe shrinking in mainstream cinema.” She also expressed her concern about this shift in films and added, “Unfortunately, it’s really heartbreaking that that’s happening.”
She began her acting journey with the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, where she played a very different and realistic character. Over the years, she has chosen roles that focus on real life issues and strong storytelling. Some of her well known films include Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bala and Saand Ki Aankh. These films helped her build a reputation for choosing meaningful roles.
Bhumi also pointed out that OTT platforms have allowed actresses to take on more layered and bold characters. She said, “But at the same time, there’s a rise of these platforms where we get great opportunities. So absolutely, I think women have always been a lot more courageous, and they are a lot more brave while choosing their scripts.” She further added, “And I think OTT just kind of gives them the right platform.”
She has continued to take on challenging roles in recent years. In Badhaai Do, she played a closeted lesbian, while films like Bheed, Afwaah and Bhakshak also dealt with serious social themes.
Most recently, she was seen in the series Daldal, a psychological crime thriller created by Suresh Triveni and directed by Amrit Raj Gupta. The show is based on the novel Bhendi Bazaar by Vish Dhamija. It follows DCP Rita Ferreira, the youngest officer to lead the Mumbai Crime Branch, as she investigates a dangerous serial killer case in the city.