Mrs. Ending Explained: Did Sanya Malhotra’s Richa leave husband Diwakar and pursue her dream?

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Spoiler Alert: The story contains spoilers of movie Mrs. 

Arati Kadav’s movie Mrs., featuring Sanya Malhotra, highlights the longstanding gender roles in Indian culture, which persist as rigid and repressive even amid changing times. This film serves as a call to action, underscoring the significance of equal rights for men and women. It questions the conventional mindset that household chores are exclusively a woman’s task and encourages appreciation and joint responsibilities within a marriage.

The narrative centers around Richa (played by Sanya Malhotra), a determined woman who cherishes her autonomy and considers marriage as part of her life. She has long advocated for an equitable partnership, where both partners acknowledge each other’s ambitions. Regrettably, her ideals were dashed when she wed Diwakar, a gynecologist whom she had thought to be forward-thinking.

In her new residence, she observed her mother-in-law relentlessly attending to the housework and catering to her husband’s needs without hesitation.

When Richa’s mother-in-law went away temporarily to assist her expectant daughter, she discovered that she was now single-handedly managing the household, which brought to light the entrenched patriarchal views within the family that had persisted over several generations.

Diwakar and his dad, despite having professional educations, seemed to view their home as a service station, expecting meals at particular times with little acknowledgement of Richa’s hard work. Offhanded comments about her culinary abilities and housekeeping skills, delivered with a hint of sarcasm, only served to make Richa feel undervalued and stuck in the situation.

Diwakar saw Richa as someone who was only responsible for attending to his daily requirements, while also adhering to his traditional notions of a submissive wife. When she shared her dream of dancing and teaching, it was met with swift disregard. Her aspirations were considered incompatible with the role of a woman in their household, and her views were flat-out disregarded.

As time went by, Richa’s annoyance intensified, yet her efforts to converse with Diwakar were unsuccessful. He skillfully manipulated her feelings, causing her to believe that it was her fault for desiring more from life. His persistent disrespect and condescension drove her to the verge of exhaustion.

At her father-in-law’s birthday party, where she was once more made to serve, she finally lost her patience. In a burst of anger, she served the guests contaminated water, a symbolic act of rebellion against the long-standing mistreatment she had suffered in silence. When Diwakar scolded her, she responded by soaking him with the same dirty water, signifying her refusal to tolerate any longer the poisonous atmosphere she was trapped within.

In the end, Richa gathered the strength to break free from Diwakar and regain her independence. She returned to her dance group, immersing herself in her love for dance and ultimately finding a sense of liberation. Unfortunately, Diwakar was unable to change his ways and remarried another woman who would also be expected to adhere to the same traditional norms.

Richa’s experience within Mrs. underscores the idea that women should not relinquish their aspirations in favor of societal acceptance. Rather, they are entitled to pursue contentment, regard, and self-determination according to their individual preferences.

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2025-02-10 11:22