Actress Tamannaah Bhatia opened up about her experiences with casual sexism in the entertainment industry and how her new show, Do You Wanna Partner, mirrors these real-life challenges. The series, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 12, stars Bhatia and Diana Penty as two best friends launching a beer startup in a world traditionally dominated by men.
Reflecting on the show’s themes, Bhatia said that they are a clear reflection of the reality faced by women in many fields. “People like it when women are seen, but they don’t want to hear them,” she explained. “They like it when the woman is just there, but not really cerebrally adding anything to the table.”
Bhatia revealed that she has personally faced this kind of judgment throughout her 20-year career. She recalled navigating moments where people would tell her, “You just look good, why do you need to share your opinions?” This form of sexism, she says, often came with the added layer of judgment about being an “ache ghar ki ladkiyan” (a girl from a good family).
Despite these experiences, Bhatia expressed her appreciation for the collaborative environment on the sets of Do You Wanna Partner. She credited the directors, Archit Kumar and Colin D’Cunha, for being receptive to her and Diana Penty’s suggestions. Bhatia noted that they were often allowed to say, “As women, we feel this is what she would say,” which gave their performances a genuine sense of conviction and authenticity.
The show, which also stars Jaaved Jaaferi, Nakuul Mehta, and Shweta Tiwari, has been lauded for its fresh take on female entrepreneurship and is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment.