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Director Arati Kadav's mother was a PhD holder, but societal expectations kept her from pursuing a career.

- Anindita Acharya

She could only resume work near retirement. This personal experience impacted Kadav, who even named the character of Richa's (actress Sanya Malhotra) mother-in-law, Meena, after her mother in 'Mrs,' recently released on Zee5.

A remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film 'The Great Indian Kitchen' (2021), 'Mrs.' is a powerful statement about patriarchy in most Indian households. The film calls for a more equitable division of domestic responsibilities.

From facing gender biases firsthand to directing her next sci-fi film, Kadav shares her journey with Millennium Post.

The Malayalam film 'The Great Indian Kitchen' (2021) raised important points about deep-seated patriarchy, marriage, gender biases and superstitions. It sparked conversations upon its release. Why was it necessary to adapt it to Hindi with 'Mrs.' on Zee5?

By the time we started making 'Mrs.' for Zee5, the conversation around 'The Great Indian Kitchen' had died down. We also felt that the original had a certain sensibility that resonated strongly in its cultural context. With 'Mrs.,' we wanted to reach families in North India, where such issues remain extremely prevalent. In the process, I spoke to many women and having Sanya Malhotra already attached to the film was fortunate. Together, we engaged with more women and realised how urgent and important this film was. However, it was equally essential to retain the essence of the original without making it overly 'Bollywoodised' or glossy. That would have diluted its impact.