Mysore/Mysuru: Actress Sudharani expressed her views on the importance of providing girls with nutritious food, education and a supportive environment that fosters confidence and self-respect.

She emphasised the negative impact of comparisons and other demoralising factors that can hinder girls’ progress. She believes that feminism should focus on instilling confidence in girls rather than promoting negativity and called for a change in this regard. The session was on silver screen and literature. Others in the session were Poornima Malagimani and Dharmendra Kumar. 

When asked about filling the void left by talented artistes like Bharati, Jayanti, Kalpana and Manjula, Sudharani admitted that she was unaware of such comparisons as she was a child artiste at that time. Even when she acted as a heroine in the movie “Anand,” she was in the same state of mind as she was studying in the 7th standard.  Sudharani acknowledged that she couldn’t be compared to the legendary artistes mentioned, stating that she and her contemporaries only acted in social movies while the legends effortlessly portrayed roles in historical and mythological films.

Regarding how fans treat her, Sudharani mentioned that there are different types of fans. Some idolise film stars and refuse to believe that they are ordinary citizens. Some are curious about the lives of actors, while others behave in a dignified manner.

She acknowledged that some fans have demanding expectations, wanting actors to answer all their questions. She expressed the need to manage these varied interactions with fans.

In response to a question by Poornima about her story winning a prize in a small story competition, Sudharani discussed her story titled “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner,” which gained her significant recognition.

The story explores the struggles of a mother dealing with teenagers addicted to video games. Although the protagonist appears to have everything — money, status and a high-profile job — Sudharani highlighted the challenges faced by single parents in managing the stress of both work and home. The story offers a glimpse into the lives of seemingly wealthy individuals, revealing a different perspective.