Being “accused” of doing regressive roles in the beginning of her career, actress Sonakshi Sinha said she has realised she should not be playing such characters on screen.

The 30-year-old actress, who debuted opposite Salman Khan in Dabangg (2010), said for all the regressive roles, it was always her who was pointed out and never the writer or director.

“I would always be on the defensive side saying why are people saying this to me. I am just an actor doing my job. But then I realised maybe somewhere they are right, maybe I shouldn’t be doing what I am doing. And maybe I should be doing something that doesn’t portray me as a damsel in distress...,” Sonakshi said in Mumbai.

The actress — daughter of Shotgun Shatrughan Sinha — said once the realisation to move away from regressive roles set in, she gradually shifted towards powerful characters.

“… I started doing films like Akira where I played a martial artist who was able to take care of herself. I did a film called Force 2 where I played a RAW agent; Noor where I played a very modern working woman. All these roles empowered me in some way or the other...,” she said. “I feel self-defence should be incorporated in our syllabus today. Not only here but all around the world where girls are able to make themselves so strong that they can protect themselves... I believe as women we need to make ourselves strong enough so that we can protect ourselves and take care of ourselves.”

Highlighting the issue of gender violence against women, Sonakshi said she hopes the disparity and discrimination against women ends soon. “I want to live in a world where we as women are able to choose. We have been playing a waiting game for the longest time.”