For years, audiences have had a convenient target whenever a female character falls flat on screen: the actress. The criticism comes fast, the memes arrive faster, and social media quickly turns the performer into the punching bag. But according to Ashika Ranganath, that outrage is often aimed at the wrong person entirely.
Her point is simple—and uncomfortable. Don't blame an actress for an underwritten role. Actors can only work with the material they're given. They don't create the character arc, decide the emotional depth, or determine how much importance a role receives within the story. Their job is to bring a character to life, not write one from scratch.
The bigger issue lies behind the camera. Time and again, female characters are reduced to glamorous appearances, romantic side quests, or decorative additions that barely influence the plot. When these roles feel forgettable, the conversation somehow shifts toward questioning the actress instead of examining the creative decisions that put her in that position.
Ashika's statement shines a spotlight on an industry habit that has survived for far too long. Writers and filmmakers continue to demand applause for progress, while many female characters remain trapped in outdated templates. They are introduced with fanfare, given little substance, and then quietly pushed aside when the narrative moves forward.
The result is a cycle that keeps repeating itself: weak writing creates weak characters, audiences blame the performer, and the real problem escapes scrutiny. Ashika's remarks challenge that pattern head-on.
If cinema genuinely wants stronger women on screen, the solution isn't to criticize actresses harder. It's to write better characters, craft meaningful arcs, and give female roles the same narrative respect routinely afforded to their male counterparts. Until that happens, the blame game is nothing more than a distraction from the real issue.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel