“Arati Kadav Criticizes Bollywood’s ‘Glorified’ Karwa Chauth”

Filmmaker Arati Kadav, who directed Mrs, has spoken about the Karwa Chauth sequence in the movie. In an interview with Indian Express, she shared her views on how Bollywood has glorified the ritual, making it look celebratory and even gender-neutral, which she feels is not the reality.

Karwa Chauth in Mrs

Arati said she chose Karwa Chauth as a key cultural reference in Mrs because it is deeply rooted in North Indian traditions. She explained, “In today’s climate, making religious statements isn’t easy.

She also pointed out how Bollywood films have normalized Karwa Chauth, shaping how generations see the ritual. Interestingly, she revealed that the Karwa Chauth scene in Mrs was added just 20 days before filming. Bollywood has turned it into a grand, celebratory event, which bothers me,” she added.

Karwa Chauth Scene in Mrs

In the film, Richa (Sanya Malhotra), a newlywed, is asked to observe Karwa Chauth. Despite not being fully willing, she is pressured to follow rituals by her husband’s aunt in the absence of her mother-in-law.