Speaking to IANS, the actor stressed that safety must be ensured across public and private spaces. "Things are changing, yes. But not to the extent it needs to. Women's safety is a huge issue. Our streets, homes and workplaces have to be safe," she said.

Gupta added that real change will depend on how society raises men and addresses violence against women. "That will happen when men are raised correctly. The impunity given to perpetrators of violence and abuse is appalling," she said.

The actor also reflected on the role of empathy in her work as a performer. According to Gupta, empathy and emotional understanding are essential qualities for artists. "Irrespective of gender, you have to be deeply empathetic as an actor. And devoid of judgement. As an artist there is a certain amount of innate empathy that one needs," she said.

"You need to nurture the stories you set out to tell, the characters you are trying to portray and the people you are collaborating with. It all needs nurturing."

Asked whether being a woman influences her artistic approach, Gupta said it can be an advantage. "Does being a woman come as an advantage? Absolutely, it does," she added.

An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Gupta made her film debut with Second Marriage Dot Com. She gained recognition for her performance as Khanum, a blind activist, in Margarita with a Straw. She was most recently seen playing a negative role in season three of the International Emmy-winning series Delhi Crime. IANS