NEW-AGE FAIRY TALE

In her new book, actor and social-media star Saloni Chopra subverts fairytale endings and puts forward more feminist solutions instead

- Manasvi Jerath

For the past many years, Indi-an-born Australian actor, mod-el and social-media influencer Saloni Chopra has been using her voice and visibility to create awareness about intersectional feminism and body positivity in often provocative ways. With over a million followers on social-media platforms, the 29-year-old, who works in Hindi films and television, has just authored a book of short essays, titled Rescued by a Feminist.

In the 350-page book of essays, she voices her thoughts, opinions and experiences on gender equality, violence against women, the importance of inclusive language in creating socially just societies, and taking care of one’s mental health in the time of social media.

We spoke to Saloni about her views and the experience of writing her first book. Did writing this book change you in any way? It’s been quite a journey. So many anxiety and panic attacks later, I’d say it was one of the hardest, yet most important things I’ve done. I want enough young womxn to know that they are not alone, they are not at fault, and they are enough. It’s everything I wish I was told in my early 20s.

Since you’re already popular and vocal about your thoughts and opinions on Instagram, why did you decide to write a book on this subject?

I wanted to remind as many Indian womxn as I could to take up more space. Remind them that their dreams, their desires, their orgasms matter. They matter.