The world of big-budget Bollywood franchises often comes with a fair share of glitter and gold, but it also brings a lot of scrutiny. Recently, Punjabi cinema’s sweetheart Sonam Bajwa found herself at the center of a debate following the release of Housefull 5. While the film has been a massive hit at the box office, particularly in North India, it hasn’t escaped criticism regarding the portrayal of its female characters.
Critics and audiences alike pointed out that the women in the film often lacked “agency”—meaning they were there more for the glamour and the jokes than for the actual plot. Many felt that talented actors like Sonam were sidelined in a script that prioritized male-centric humor.
In a recent conversation with News18 Showsha, Sonam addressed these concerns head-on. Rather than getting defensive, she took a very practical and honest approach. She acknowledged that people have every right to their opinions and admitted she was “fully aware” of what she was signing up for.
“I knew that Housefull is a big franchise with an ensemble cast of legendary actors. I was aware I wouldn’t ‘own’ the film or have an extensive role, but I was okay with that because it was my first major step into Hindi cinema,” she explained.
What really caught the internet’s attention was how Sonam defended her choice by citing Alia Bhatt. Sonam pointed out that even the most acclaimed actors today didn’t start with heavy, award-winning roles.
She noted that in Alia’s debut (Student of the Year), she played the “quintessential Bollywood heroine”—a role that was high on glamour and traditional tropes. Sonam’s point was simple: women often have to prove their commercial viability in glamorous roles before they are “allowed” or trusted to carry intense, performance-driven films.
Sonam also reminded fans that one movie doesn’t define an entire career. While Housefull 5 allowed her to showcase her comic timing in a few key scenes, she is already looking forward to her next project, Ek Deewani Ki Deewaniyat. She promised that this upcoming film would show a much more “intense” and “performance-oriented” side of her as an actress. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
