EXCLUSIVE: Vedaa villain Kshitij Chauhan on women safety and gender-based violence, “We need to educate the men of our society!”

The popular adage “bad is good” seems to ring true for actor Kshitij Chauhan, who has been praised for hisportrayal of the villainous Chota Pradhan in his latest release Vedaa, starring John Abraham and Sharvari Wagh. As discussions around women’s safety continue to dominate headlines, the relevance of Kshitij’s character in the film, who embodies the worst forms of inhumanity towards women, has not gone unnoticed.

“This is a very sensitive and important topic that we address in Vedaa,” Kshitij said. “We often hear misguided comments like, ‘What was she wearing?’ or ‘What was she doing at that time?’ —statements that are baseless and absurd. The reality is, it doesn’t matter whether it’s an elderly woman, a young child, a girl in a burqa, or a girl in a mini skirt—violence and harassment against women are never justified.”

Kshitij believes that addressing this issue requires a dual approach. “We need to educate the men of our society. Men must learn to be respectful, considerate, and genuinely believe in gender equality. Women are not objects—they are human beings deserving of respect. Education is key to changing this mindset.”

He also emphasized the importance of self-defence for women. “Our film Vedaa shows that when women know how to defend themselves, they can stand up to those who harass them. Women should not be afraid to assert their right to safety and dignity,” he said.

Offering a solution to the ongoing crisis, Kshitij elaborated, “We must educate men and encourage women to be unapologetically themselves. Women should feel free to wear what they want, go out when they want, without fear. And if they know self-defence, they should not hesitate to use it against those who wish to harm them. In Vedaa, my character is an embodiment of evil—he believes in casteism and thinks he can do anything to women. But the consequences he faces are a reminder that justice must prevail. Audiences have cheered when Vedaa’s character (Sharvari) stands up to him, showing that people are eager to see justice served. I have been told that the audience have been whistling and clapping on those scenes because people want to see justice through our voice and action.”

Kshitij’s menacing portrayal and his stance on women’s safety are not only gaining him accolades but also sparking important conversations about respect, equality, and justice.

Also Read: Sharvari reveals undergoing 7 months of boxing prep journey for Vedaa in this latest social media post