Shilpa Shinde on feminism: 'Smoking doesn't make women bold'
Synopsis
Shilpa Shinde is pushing back against a particular idea of modern boldness — one defined by smoking, drinking, or revealing clothes. Her argument: a woman's mindset and values matter far more than her lifestyle choices or wardrobe, and conflating the two does a disservice to real empowerment.
Key Takeaways
Shilpa Shinde described herself as 'a little orthodox,' saying she personally dislikes seeing women smoke.
She argued that smoking, drinking, or dressing a certain way does not constitute boldness or empowerment.
Shinde said clothes and mindset are entirely separate: 'Your clothes don't define your mindset.' Actress Pervein Dastur echoed the sentiment, noting that appearances can be misleading.
Shinde is currently receiving strong audience response for her web series 'Margao Files' .
Actress Shilpa Shinde has shared her perspective on modern feminism and womanhood, arguing that true empowerment is rooted in self-awareness and personal values — not in smoking, drinking, or dressing a certain way. The actress described herself as 'a little orthodox' on certain personal beliefs during a candid conversation.
What Shilpa Said About Smoking and Boldness
'Actually, I am a little orthodox. Very frankly, I don't like seeing women smoke. That's my personal opinion and that's why I say I am a little orthodox in that way,' Shinde said. She was clear that her discomfort is a personal stance, not a prescription for others.
She went further to separate the concept of boldness from lifestyle choices: 'Boldness is different. Just because someone smokes, drinks, or wears certain clothes doesn't make them bold. That is not what boldness is,' she explained.
Clothes vs Mindset: Shilpa's Core Argument
Actress Pervein Dastur, who was also part of the conversation, noted that appearances can be deceptive, observing, 'I have seen young girls in salwar-kameez standing at paan shops and smoking. So unassuming looking and such young girls, smoking.'
Shinde agreed, drawing a firm line between clothing choices and a woman's inner strength. 'I like women wearing sarees, but I am not talking about clothes. A woman should know herself, her values, and who she is. That's what matters,' she said.
She added: 'A lot of girls think that by wearing something short and in particular they will look bolder, but it's not like that. You can wear a saree or modern clothes, whatever you want. Your clothes don't define your mindset, and your mindset doesn't depend on your clothes.'
Her View on Feminism
Shinde concluded that feminism, in her understanding, is about carrying one's values with confidence — and not conflating external appearances with genuine empowerment. Critics of this view might argue that such framing can inadvertently police women's choices, but Shinde was careful to frame her remarks as personal opinion rather than a universal standard.
Professional Update
Shilpa Shinde was most recently seen in her web series 'Margao Files', which has reportedly been receiving a strong audience response both for the project itself and for her character portrayal.
Point of View
But offering an alternative definition of empowerment. Yet such statements from public figures inevitably carry weight beyond the personal. The more substantive question her interview raises is one mainstream coverage often sidesteps: who gets to define what boldness looks like for Indian women, and whose definition ends up setting the cultural default?
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shilpa Shinde say about women smoking?
Shilpa Shinde said she personally dislikes seeing women smoke, calling herself 'a little orthodox' on the matter. She was clear this is a personal opinion and not a comment on others' choices.
What is Shilpa Shinde's definition of boldness?
Shinde argued that boldness is not defined by smoking, drinking, or wearing certain clothes. According to her, a woman's boldness comes from self-knowledge, values, and confidence — not external appearances.
What did Shilpa Shinde say about sarees and clothing?
Shinde said she personally likes women wearing sarees but stressed she was not making a case for any particular dress code. Her point was that clothing — whether a saree or modern attire — does not determine a woman's mindset or strength.
Who is Pervein Dastur and what did she say?
Pervein Dastur is an actress who participated in the same conversation as Shilpa Shinde. She observed that appearances can be deceptive, citing examples of young, conservatively dressed girls smoking at paan shops.
What is Shilpa Shinde currently working on?
Shilpa Shinde was most recently seen in the web series 'Margao Files', which has reportedly received a positive audience response for both the project and her performance.
