Mumbai : ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ actress Samridhii Shukla has opened up about the need to break traditional gender roles at home. In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, she emphasized that managing a household and raising children should be a shared responsibility between both partners. Speaking about the pressures women continue to face, Samridhii said, “Many women are still expected to do it all. They are expected to take care of the children, work if they choose to, and then come back home and manage the household as well. Even if they are not personally cooking, they are expected to organise everything, coordinate with the cook, and make sure the house runs smoothly. The responsibility of managing everything somehow automatically falls on the woman.”
“I honestly think that expectation is unfair. When two people get married, they build a life together. They both live in the same house, they both use everything in it, and most importantly, the children belong to both parents. So why should one person be expected to carry the larger share of the responsibility? Roles can and should change depending on the situation.”
Samridhii further explained that families should support each other instead of following rigid gender roles. “If a woman has just given birth and isn't in a position to step out for work, naturally the husband can take charge outside. Similarly, when she is ready to return to work or pursue her own goals, the husband can step in at home and manage things. It's about making space for each other's dreams instead of expecting one person to sacrifice all the time.”
Samridhii Shukla is currently portraying the lead role of Abhira in ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.’ Her character is constantly trying to juggle multiple responsibilities. Talking about Abhira, the actress said, “Abhira is trying to be everywhere and do everything at once. It's not easy at all. There is so much pressure on her, and that's something many women experience in real life too. They constantly feel the need to prove themselves both at home and outside, and that emotional load is very real.”