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Ever since her debut a decade ago, Bhumi Satish Pednekkar has built her career on choices that few expected her to make - be it with her first film Dum Laga Ke Haisha to very recently Badhaai Do or Netflix's Bhakshak. At the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2025, the actor and climate advocate brought that same fearless energy to the stage, speaking candidly about breaking stereotypes without caring much for the world and its myriad opinions.

She said,“I love breaking stereotypes. I think it's something that gives me such joy. I love challenging the status quo. And honestly, I've made a career out of it. It's also a great strategy for me,” she told the audience. “I don’t come from a background in cinema. Nobody in my family could have ever imagined that I would become an actor. And I did go ahead and do some really, really crazy things that they still can't believe.”

Pednekkar’s rise in Bollywood has often mirrored the characters she portrays -- women who challenge expectations and force audiences to confront social norms. That alignment between personal choice and artistic expression, she suggested, has been deliberate.

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Bhumi Pednekar at Milken Asia Summit 2025

“In many ways, I’ve always led such an unconventional life that a lot of those choices resonate with the kind of cinema I do,” she said. “I'm constantly asked I'm 35 why aren't you married? In India, they say, ‘When will you settle down?’ I’m like, I am settled. I am independent. I have a beautiful family. I’m healthy. I’m happy. What can be better than this?" she said.

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Her remarks struck a chord with everyone in the audience at the summit, offering a reminder that cultural change often starts with individuals willing to question tradition.

By bringing her personal story in a room filled with thought leaders, Pednekkar used her inherent courage to spark broader conversations about the choices we make. Sometimes, changing the status quo begins with the courage to live differently and clearly she is someone who has made a start and is thriving.