Surveen Chawla's one wish for the industry...

Actor Surveen Chawla, known for her powerful turns in streaming hits such as Sacred Games, Rana Naidu and Criminal Justice, says she is eager to work in films, but finding meaningful, women-led narratives remains a challenge.

Chawla believes the film industry is still evolving when it comes to providing equal opportunities for women, both in front of and behind the camera.

“Women need to be the stories, not just mere parts in them,” she said. “The industry is progressing and we’re slowly reaching a space where we’re aspiring for equality — be it in storytelling, pay parity, quality of roles or how one is treated, regardless of hierarchy.”

While film roles remain limited, the actor finds the OTT space far more fertile ground for strong characters, which is why she is currently focusing her energies there. Chawla, who has appeared in films such as ‘Ugly’, ‘Hate Story 2’ and ‘Parched’, said she gravitates towards roles that offer her a significant stake in the story.

“I feel there’s a real scarcity of such parts in films and that’s what draws me to OTT,” she said. “If I get the chance to do even one, five or ten films where I feel I’ve truly contributed to a project in a meaningful way, I’ll take it.”

Chawla, 40, was seen in the latest release ‘Mandala Murders’, a Netflix original series produced by YRF Entertainment which premiered on July 25.

She said she actively seeks roles that push her creatively. “A lot of work doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of options. From that small basket of work that comes your way, you try to pick the one that excites you — something challenging, something you haven’t done before. I need to wake up on shoot days with that spark, that feeling of climbing a little peak.”