Mona Singh speaks on ‘masculine culture’ in film industry: Women often made to feel like outsiders

Actor Mona Singh says patriarchal attitudes and a “brotherhood culture” still exist in many professional spaces, including the entertainment industry.

The actor is currently enjoying a busy phase in her career, with three projects releasing within a short span of time — Happy Patel: Ek Khatarnak Jasoos, Border 2, and the upcoming season of the crime drama Kohrra.

While speaking about the themes explored in the new season, Mona pointed out that gender-based power dynamics shown in the show often mirror real life.

‘Women are often made to feel like outsiders’

According to Mona Singh, certain professional spaces still function with a strong “brotherhood” dynamic that can make women feel excluded.

“There’s a brotherhood romance going on in the most masculine culture, where often a woman is made to feel like the outsider,” she said.

The actor added that these patterns are not limited to the entertainment industry but are visible across everyday life as well.

She explained that even today some men feel uncomfortable taking instructions from women in leadership roles.

“I see it everywhere. Sometimes even male drivers have an ego when their boss is a woman. At home too, there are situations where people assume decisions should come from men,” she said.

Reflecting social realities

Mona believes that the social realities depicted in the show are relatable because they exist in many households and workplaces.

She noted that in several families, women are not always included in important decisions.

“I’ve seen households where women are not asked for their opinion. Decisions are made by men, even when they affect the women directly. Everything is told to them — they’re rarely asked,” she said.

According to the actor, the series attempts to portray these realities in a raw and authentic way.

Playing a woman police officer

In Kohrra Season 2, Mona Singh plays a senior police officer who supervises the character played by Barun Sobti.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)

The story not only follows their investigation but also highlights how workplace dynamics shift when a male officer reports to a female superior in a traditionally male-dominated field like policing.

Speaking about the role, Mona said that female officers often face pressure to constantly prove their abilities.

“Being a woman cop means you often feel the need to prove yourself again and again. There’s often an assumption that women are physically weaker or less capable,” she explained.

Barun Sobti on strong women

Barun Sobti also shared his thoughts during the conversation and agreed that some men struggle with the idea of strong women.

“It’s true that many men get uncomfortable around strong women. Taking orders from them can be difficult for some. Even during arguments, if a woman makes a strong point, you can see people getting uneasy,” he said.

However, he clarified that he was not referring to all men but noted that such attitudes are still fairly common.