Sushmita Sen, known for her fearless and opinionated personality, once faced an industry-wide ban from magazine covers. In a throwback interview with Film Companion, the Main Hoon Na actress recalled how, during the 90s, her outspoken nature led to a backlash. She revealed that her candid statements were perceived as a bad influence on children and the younger generation. “There were repercussions. It was a much more closeted society back then, so if you spoke your mind, it was seen as rebellious,” she said.
‘Magazines Were Told Not to Feature Me’
Sushmita further revealed that she was deliberately excluded from the cover pages of leading entertainment magazines. “There was a time when they told magazines not to put me on the cover because of my quotes,” she shared. While she understood why this happened, she admitted that she never held back from expressing her thoughts. “I was very loud and clear,” she added.
‘I Learned to Say It Better’
Over time, Sushmita adapted to the changing social landscape and refined the way she expressed her opinions. “I thought, if you take away my freedom to express myself, what freedom do I really have? So am I going to be scared away from speaking my mind, or am I just going to learn how to say it better or say it nicer? I chose the latter,” she stated. She admitted that while she lacked tact in the past, she eventually learned how to present her thoughts in a way that resonated with people without seeming too brash.
‘The World Has Changed, But Some Things Remain’
Reflecting on how times have changed, Sushmita noted that the world today is far more accepting of outspoken individuals than it was in the 90s. “There is still that ‘haw’ element, but it’s not as bad as it was back then,” she remarked.
