Soni Razdan discusses career struggles following marriage

Actor Soni Razdan has spoken about the professional challenges she faced following her marriage to filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt in 1986. She described a period where her film opportunities abruptly ceased, stating she felt “written off” as people questioned why a married woman would need to continue working.

Razdan noted that the industry's reaction reflected a patriarchal mindset and the “male gaze,” where the desirability of women was often viewed through a skewed lens. She recalled being told that her husband did not need her to work because she was married, a concept she found alien.

To sustain her career, Razdan transitioned into television during the 1990s, appearing in shows such as Junoon and Saahil. She credited television with providing the strength to revive her acting career, eventually allowing her to return to film work.