Riddhi Kumar: Being a modern Indian woman is simply being an individual

Riddhi Kumar believes the most powerful lessons about equality are often learnt at home. On International Women’s Day, the actress, who has been part of films like Radhe Shyam, Superboys of Malegaon, Lover and The Raja Saab, shares the values that shaped her understanding of independence, identity and choice. She says, “The one woman who has shaped my values and my journey the most, cliché enough, has to be my mom. She created a home where equality felt natural. She’s truly created a life that is so equal, with such intense gender equality, that growing up I didn’t even understand the concept behind it. I thought that’s just how the world was. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt from her is that circumstances don’t define you as an individual. It’s about what you decide to do with your life, making active, deliberate, intentional changes and creating the life that you want.” Speaking about what being a modern Indian woman means to her, Riddhi says, “The idea of a modern Indian woman is that of an individual. It’s not about labels like modern, traditional, feminine or masculine, but about seeing a woman as a person first. Being a woman is not about categorising myself as belonging to the female gender, but about being a human being figuring life out, exploring, experimenting and balancing personal growth with professional aspirations.” For Riddhi, the conversation around feminism ultimately comes down to recognising people simply as individuals. “When we speak about feminism and blurring gender bias and discrimination, it’s about normalising the idea of individuals being individuals first. So being a modern Indian woman means being a person, and that’s it,” she says.