Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about patriarchy, social conditioning and the pressure women face to constantly prove themselves, regardless of their achievements or position. Speaking at the trailer launch of upcoming series ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’, the actress said patriarchal conditioning is deeply ingrained in society and is internalised by both men and women. She also recalled instances where women’s perspectives were dismissed or explained to them, even in conversations concerning their own experiences.
Fatima Sana Shaikh says women are conditioned to ‘prove yourself’
Speaking about the challenges women continue to face, Fatima Sana Shaikh said that societal conditioning often puts women at a disadvantage before they even get an opportunity to establish themselves. Fatima stressed that the issue is not about women lacking confidence, intelligence or clarity about what they want. Instead, she pointed to the structures and attitudes that continue to shape how women are perceived.“You know, unfortunately, this is our truth as women, that we start from two steps back. So, no matter which room you are in, no matter what position you are in, power, in a hierarchy, it doesn’t matter. Because this is the conditioning of society,” she said.The actress further explained that women can find themselves having to establish their credibility repeatedly, even when their professional position or accomplishments should already speak for themselves.“It’s not that we are not deserving, we don’t know what we want, we are intelligent. But society is wired in such a way that it doesn’t give you a chance, it tells you to wait a minute, first prove yourself,” Fatima added.
Fatima says patriarchy is ‘not just the fault of men’
Fatima also emphasised that addressing patriarchy requires looking beyond a simple male-versus-female narrative. According to the actress, patriarchal attitudes can be internalised by women as well, because everyone grows up within the same social conditioning. For Fatima, challenging patriarchy therefore involves recognising the biases that people can absorb over time and actively questioning those beliefs.“Patriarchy is not just the fault of men, it also includes women, it internalizes them. And we are all born under the same conditioning, and we have to fight it. It’s deeply ingrained,” she said.
Fatima Sana Shaikh recalls being the only woman in meetings
The actress also shared a personal experience from professional meetings, as quoted by Free Press Journal. She recalled situations where a project was described as being centred on women or focused on women’s empowerment, only for her to discover that she was the only woman in the room. Fatima also spoke about the experience of having women’s perspectives dismissed or explained to them, even when the discussion involved issues directly connected to their lives. According to the actress, women eventually have to learn to stand up for themselves and push back against the conditioning that tells them to remain on the sidelines or constantly prove their worth.
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’
‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ explores a young woman’s fight to make herself heard amid societal and institutional pressures. The series stars Aneet Padda in the lead role, with Fatima Sana Shaikh, Raghubir Yadav, Zoya Hussain and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub also part of the ensemble cast. The story follows Meenu Rawat, played by Aneet, as she navigates a complicated situation involving a police investigation, courtroom proceedings and the media. Each perspective gradually reveals different forces shaping the case and the circumstances surrounding Meenu. ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ is directed by Karan D Kapadia, Nitya Mehra and Heeraz Marfatia.
When and where to watch ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’
‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ is set to premiere on JioHotstar on September 25, 2026.