Fatima Sana Shaikh Says Women Are Conditioned to Prove Themselves at Hunkkaar Trailer Launch

Fatima Sana Shaikh said women are conditioned to prove themselves repeatedly regardless of their position or achievements, speaking at the trailer launch of her upcoming series Hunkkaar: The Roar on September 10, 2026. The actress also said patriarchy is not solely the fault of men, arguing that women internalise the same societal conditioning.

The trailer for Hunkkaar: The Roar was unveiled on September 10. The socio-thriller courtroom drama will premiere on JioHotstar on September 25.

Women Start ‘Two Steps Back,’ Shaikh Says

Shaikh described how societal conditioning places women at a disadvantage before they even have a chance to establish themselves. She said, ‘You know, unfortunately, this is our truth as women, that we start from two steps back. So, no matter which room you are in, no matter what position you are in, power, in a hierarchy, it doesn’t matter. Because this is the conditioning of society.’

She added that the issue is not about women lacking confidence or clarity. Shaikh said, ‘It’s not that we are not deserving, we don’t know what we want, we are intelligent. But society is wired in such a way that it doesn’t give you a chance, it tells you to wait a minute, first prove yourself.’

Patriarchy ‘Not Just the Fault of Men’

Shaikh said the problem extends beyond a simple male-versus-female narrative. She said, ‘Patriarchy is not only the fault of men. There are also women in it. They are also included. It internalizes. And we are all born in the same conditioning. And we have to fight it.’ She described the attitudes as ‘deeply ingrained.’

Addressing how women should respond, Shaikh said, ‘You have to learn to stand up for yourself and fight.’

Industry Meetings Highlighted as Example

Shaikh recalled attending meetings where a project was pitched as female-centric or focused on women’s empowerment, only to find she was the only woman in the room. She said, ‘Even I have been in such rooms, where you go to a room, the producer tells you that this is a mind-blowing film for you. Then, the role is of a woman who is trying to find a voice.’

She described the contradiction of having women’s perspectives dismissed or explained to them. She said, ‘The irony is that when you try to say something, she won’t appreciate it. She can’t handle it. And then, she will make weird jokes, or she will mansplain. Because she will tell us how women feel when there is a violent crime. She will tell us that actually, it’s not that bad. It’s like this.’

Hunkkaar: The Roar Details

In Hunkkaar: The Roar, Shaikh plays ACP Jasleen Singh Soni, a police officer investigating a case against a powerful spiritual guru accused of abusing a teenage girl. The series stars Aneet Padda as Meenu Rawat, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as a lawyer defending the victim, Raghubir Yadav as the guru Baapji, and Arjun Mathur as a television journalist. Ram Kapoor also features in the cast.

The show is produced by Birla Studios and Applause Entertainment in association with Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Purple Pebble Pictures and Mangata Films Production. It is directed by Karan D. Kapadia, Nitya Mehra, and Heeraz Marfatia.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas said in a statement, ‘As a producer, I’ve always wanted to stand behind stories that have something to say, and Hunkkaar: The Roar is very much that. I also really believe in Nitya and Karan as filmmakers. I’m incredibly proud of what this entire cast and crew has created, and it’s been a privilege to be a small part of this journey. I hope the story stays with audiences the way it stayed with me.’

The series was formerly titled Nyaya and was shot before Aneet Padda’s breakthrough film Saiyaara. It marks Padda’s first release after the success of that 2025 romantic musical. The official trailer is available on JioHotstar’s YouTube channel and the platform’s social media accounts.

The latest confirmed status is that Hunkkaar: The Roar will begin streaming on JioHotstar on September 25, 2026. Shaikh was also recently seen at the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, which ran from September 7 to 10. Her upcoming projects include the Prime Video series Teen Kauwe alongside Bobby Deol and Sidhant Gupta.