Mumbai: Actor Anya Singh has spoken about the assumptions women often face because of what they choose to wear, arguing that clothing should not be used as a measure of a person’s character.
Anya, who appeared in Border 2 earlier this year and has also been seen in The Bads of Bollywood, was discussing fashion and personal style while collaborating with Libas for its Gerua collection. The conversation also prompted her to reflect on how her own relationship with Indian clothing has changed over the years.
Anya Singh says her view of Indian wear has changed
Anya recalled that while growing up, she considered Western clothing more fashionable.
“When I went to college, there were a lot of girls who would wear salwar suits, and there was a certain bias towards them,” she said.
According to the actor, women who preferred traditional clothing were sometimes stereotyped as less fashionable or overly academic.
“I was one of them,” she admitted.
Her perspective, however, has changed considerably. Anya now says she is comfortable choosing Indian outfits even when travelling internationally.
“Now I wear Indian clothes even when I travel abroad. There’s no hassle, and you can breathe,” she said.
For her, traditional clothing is no longer something that needs to be contrasted with contemporary fashion. It has become part of her personal style.
“You can’t judge a woman by what she wears”
Anya also addressed the more serious issue of how women’s clothing can influence the way they are perceived.
She argued that a woman wearing revealing clothing should not automatically be subjected to assumptions about her personality or character.
“It’s not fair. Maybe someone is showing their cleavage or midriff, but the tag or perspective of them being easy bothers me,” she said.
Anya described that kind of judgment as a simplistic way of viewing women and pointed out that such attitudes can also come from other women.
“It’s such a generic thought to have, and women do that to other women as well, especially older women,” she added.
Her comments highlight a broader conversation around the way female celebrities are often scrutinised for their fashion choices, with clothing sometimes becoming a basis for judgments that have little connection to their work or personality.
Anya Singh on social media and losing projects
The actor has previously spoken about another form of judgement she encountered while trying to establish herself in the film industry: the importance placed on social media following.
In an earlier conversation, Anya revealed that she believed she had lost two projects because she did not have a sufficiently large social media audience.
“At that point, I thought that I wasn’t suitable for the part. But [in reality], it was because I didn’t have [the desired] following,” she had said.
Anya acknowledged that having a strong social media presence can be useful for actors, but questioned whether follower numbers should outweigh professional ability.
“If someone wants to watch me, they will, irrespective of it,” she said.
She also made clear that her criticism was not directed at actors who have built large online audiences. Instead, her concern was about situations where follower counts become a deciding factor in casting.
“I’m not saying that people with [a strong] social media game are undeserving. But if you are not casting me because of [my lack of] followers, then you’re putting craft second and something else first,” she explained.
Anya’s fashion choices reflect a changing perspective
From reconsidering her own assumptions about ethnic wear to challenging the stereotypes attached to women’s clothing, Anya’s comments reflect a broader shift in how she approaches fashion and public perception.
For the actor, personal style is ultimately about comfort and confidence rather than fitting into a prescribed image.
Her remarks also underline a point that extends beyond the fashion conversation: a woman’s appearance, whether traditional or contemporary, should not become a shortcut for judging her character.
