In an industry still grappling with deep-seated patriarchy and power games, film director Deepti Pillay Sivan doesn’t just break the mould, she shatters it resoundingly… that too with grace and grit. A former actor turned fierce filmmaker – she is the Director of the award-winning documentary film Decoding Shankar on the legendary Shankar Mahadevan and the viral Indian Navy anthem Call of the Blue Waters – Deepti Pillay Sivan is a bold storyteller with a legacy that echoes from Bollywood to the President’s office… and she’s only just getting started.

Armed with raw honesty, a deeply-rooted sense of justice, and a tribe of unwavering supporters… her husband, acclaimed filmmaker Sanjeev Sivan, her inspiring children, and a circle of friends and mentors… Deepti is proving that leadership has no gender, only courage.

Her journey is a manifesto for every woman who’s been underestimated, every artist told to tone it down, every leader who’s had to yell just to be heard. For she has tackled it all – from relentless bias to gaslighting, and in the midst of it all, exposed the hypocrisy of “courtesy” that only flows toward the person t holding the purse strings.

She has walked into rooms where instructions from a woman were met with silence, where past power dynamics turned cold when she stepped into the director’s chair. And yet, she stood her ground, not with anger, but with clarity, conviction, and the quiet thunder of purpose. So, no… this boss woman is not here to play by the old rules, she’s here to write her own script, that to, on her own terms.

In an exclusive interview with Sumita Chakraborty, Editor-in-Chief, TheGlitz, Deepti Pillay Sivan pulls no punches… speaking truth to power, torching tired stereotypes, and lighting the path for a new generation of fearless female storytellers. She stands as living proof that authenticity isn’t sacrificed for impact, it is the impact. And with her powerful blend of creative vision and grounded wisdom, she’s carving out space not just for herself, but for every voice that’s ever been told to wait, shrink, or soften.

So folks, keep your eyes peeled… Deepti Pillay Sivan is not just a woman behind the camera, she is a woman who owns the frame, rewrites the narrative, and refuses to let the spotlight dim the fire within.

Over To Deepti Pillay Sivan

As a female director in India, could you describe your journey from being an actor to being a director in a male dominated world. What systemic challenges have you faced and how have you learned to outsmart or dismantle them?

As an actor I never faced any issue but as a Director, I did. Yet, I would never make it a generic gender issue when it comes to discrimination against women. While there are some men who want to pull you down, gaslighting and feel insecure – those are people who have no confidence in their capabilities, but I have to say that there are some men who have extended their hand to help me out of the situation, mind you, they are the ones who are extremely confident about themselves and their capabilities, they have no insecurities or competition with any person leave alone with a woman.

Cinema is still a male-dominated space. Have you ever had to fight for your creative voice on set? How do you hold your ground when the odds are stacked?

As a Director even though I had a “Bahubali”- like my husband Sanjeev Sivan on the sets of the shoot, yet it wasn’t easy to get things from some men being a lady. Some typical conservative thinking men aren’t willing to take any instructions for women. These are people with whom I have worked in the past as Producer, where I was the “Miss Money Bags”, then they were all courteous to me. That’s when I realised “Money talks, bullshit walks”.

I choose to work with these same people; having worked with them in the past. Since it was my debut film, I thought it would be easier to work with the same team. But here I was the Director, so they brushed me off many times not giving me the things the way I wanted.

Thankfully, I had some great mentors who told me to stand my ground. Those mentors were men too though-  like my husband Sanjeev Sivan, Editor Sreekar Prasad, Cinematographer C K Muralidharan, friends Rajeev Mehrotra, also my sons Shreyas & Sidhanshu, (who witnessed the same as an actor playing the main protagonist); besides by my girlfriends Sanjini and Dhanya; they all inspired me to fight it out and let such people know who is in charge. I did exactly that.

Their pep talk helped and influenced me a lot at that phase of my life. I strongly feel it is not a gender issue; it’s the mentality and upbringing issues of some men.

How do you stay authentic without compromising impact or mass appeal?

By delivering what you envisaged. By being true to yourself, your talent, art and creativity. Your work of art is a way to communicate to the world what you are made up of and your value system.

What’s the one unspoken truth about being a woman behind the camera that no one prepares you for… but everyone should hear?

I have worked in corporate offices in Television, Radio, Animation etc. be it anywhere not just behind the camera, any place of work; I have realised there are some insecure and incapable men who take it out on women who are better than them. They can’t match them on the work front, when the women are doing well at their job the easiest way is to slander their character, gas-light and speak bad about them behind their back.

All I have to say is never fall for any such demotivating tactics people apply as you are ultimately answerable only to your loved ones and your conscience. If your conscience is clear, then you don’t have to care about what the world says about you. Just do your work with utmost passion, commitment and dedication rest all will fall in place.

Do you believe OTT platforms have genuinely created more room for female storytellers, or are they still boxed into ‘niche’ genres?

Nothing of that sort. They still have not cracked it yet.

In your view, is Indian cinema doing justice to female representation, both in storytelling and staffing? Or are we just checking diversity boxes?

We have a long way to go… and it will take some time before we reach that stage.

When critics or gatekeepers label a female filmmaker’s work as “sensitive” or “soft,” does it irk you? How do you challenge those gendered assumptions about your craft?

Critics use of that terminology is based on the films and subject of the film. I don’t think it has been a generalised statement for all female filmmakers. So, it would be inappropriate to say that.

Your family, especially Sanjeev and your kids, have been your biggest cheerleaders. Do you believe that for a woman to thrive as a director in this industry, having a strong support system at home is not just helpful but essential? And how do you think the narrative changes for women who don’t have that privilege?

Oh Yes, it is absolutely essential if you want to make a mark… Frankly, without my husband I wouldn’t be what I am today. He is the only reason I am able to do what I love and achieve what I aspire for. And without the support of my kids Shreyas, Sidhanshu and Srithik I wouldn’t be able to work peacefully. They always say, “Relax ma, you bash on regardless… we will take care of things at home”. They handle the studies, tuitions, games, home, kitchen, maids everything- not only their stuff, even of their younger brothers. If they don’t take care of my back, I definitely can’t deliver. 

I am a professional but a homemaker first. One has to give equal importance to family, work and home. I believe charity begins at home. If you can keep your home in control then you can achieve what you set your mind to. For that you have to have a loving atmosphere, understanding relationship with complete transparency and no ego with your family members, then you can work peacefully and face all challenges life throws at you.

 Women especially definitely need to have that kind of mentality and support system if they need to really make it in their careers.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women directors who are ready to break rules but unsure of how to survive the fallout?

Don’t look at yourself as a woman. Just bash on to achieve what you set sail for. Never back out until you achieve just because you are a woman. The determination lies in your hand and in your mind. You will be able to leave a mark only if you strive to do something different only if you decide; no one else is going to do things for you. So just have faith in yourself, your abilities and bash on regardless and make things happen ladies not for anyone else but for yourself.