Periods not an excuse: Sreeleela’s remark sparks debate

What happened

Actor Sreeleela’s comments from a recent Ustaad Bhagat Singh event in March have resurfaced online. She said she worked through her periods and doesn’t see them as an “excuse”, adding that women seeking equality must push past “physiological and psychological barriers.”

The “pro-work” view:

Supporters argue her mindset is necessary for women to thrive in hyper-competitive, male-dominated industries like cinema

• Kudos to her for speaking up. #Sreeleela is just sharing her stellar story of pushing through period for work. It’s not a rulebook for everyone. And she is a doctor! Context matters!

• Take a bow #Sreeleela for powering through tough days while dancing! That’s dedication..pure respect for her grind!

• I don’t see how the statement is so problematic...I have had painless periods and painful periods both at different stages of life, and I don’t remember it stopping me from doing anything..It is just her opinion and as a women, she can have one, no one needs to take it seriously

The “biological” view:

• Critics say this “bootstraps” approach ignores severe medical conditions (like dysmenorrhea) and sets a dangerous precedent that health is secondary to productivity

• I mean the intensity of period pain/cramps and the tolerance level is different for different people right? She can’t generalize it.Pushing through pain, is not hustling. It’s stupidity. I highly doubt there are many women who use periods as an excuse. Women work, manage their usual daily chores, relationships, etc. What may be asked from the systems, is recognitition of the fact that periods can be difficult, painful, or tiring: so maybe a bit of kindness and empathy for someone who may be struggling to function as per their usual

The Supreme Court echo:

In March, the Supreme Court of India declined to hear a plea for mandatory menstrual leave. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said such a mandate could discourage hiring women and reinforce gender stereotypes. The bench observed that such mandates could be “harmful” to women’s growth, potentially leading to hiring bias where employers view women as less “at par” with male colleagues.





The bottom line:

While Sreeleela advocates pushing through, menstrual health at work calls for flexible support systems rather than one-size-fits-all solutionsGet the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”