Actress Kirti Kulhari, best known for her role as Falak Ali in the critically acclaimed Pink (2016), recently shared her experience of feeling sidelined during the film’s promotions. Despite her significant contribution to the film, Kulhari revealed that the industry’s PR machinery made her aware of the “big star-small star” treatment.

In a conversation with Fever FM, the actress, who made her Bollywood debut with Khichdi: The Movie (2010), candidly spoke about her learning curve in the entertainment industry. She recalled how the promotional campaign of Pink largely focused on Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan, leaving her feeling overshadowed.

“When Pink happened, I never thought in terms of ‘who is big or small’ in the industry. For me, it was a story of three girls, and we were all actors working together,” she shared. “But the people around you make you feel the hierarchy. Pink made me realize how the industry treats big and small stars differently.”

Kulhari further recounted a conversation with Pink director Shoojit Sircar after watching the film’s trailer. “I saw that the trailer was mainly filled with Taapsee and Mr. Bachchan. That was my first jhatka because I knew what I had done in the film,” she said. “Shoojit told me, ‘Don’t worry about it, let the film come out.’ I never do PR; I believe my work will eventually be seen.”

Despite the promotional imbalance, Kulhari clarified that her co-star Taapsee Pannu was always nice to her and that she had no prior understanding of the industry’s PR dynamics.

Besides Kulhari, Pannu, and Bachchan, Pink also featured Andrea Tariang and Angad Bedi in key roles. The courtroom drama, which addressed the issue of women’s consent, received widespread acclaim and was a turning point in the careers of its lead actresses.

Kirti Kulhari has since built an impressive filmography, showcasing her versatility in projects like Indu Sarkar (2017), Blackmail (2018), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), Mission Mangal (2019), and The Girl on the Train (2021). She also gained recognition for her role in the popular web series Four More Shots Please!

While she may have been overlooked during Pink’s promotions, Kirti Kulhari’s journey in the industry continues to prove that talent speaks louder than PR.