I’ve prayed a thousand times that men would get periods too: Shruti Haasan

South Indian and Bollywood actress Shruti Haasan has spoken candidly about the physical pain of menstruation, PCOS, and the menstrual health issues women face in the workplace. She even jokingly remarked that if men also experienced periods, 'period leave' might have been given greater importance in professional settings.

Shruti shared her personal experiences while recently appearing on actress Soha Ali Khan's podcast. She revealed that early in her career, she suffered from severe menstrual pain and cramps due to PCOS but used to feel uncomfortable discussing these issues on film sets.

Shruti emphasized the need for workplaces to give greater consideration to women's physical condition during menstruation. Jokingly, she mentioned praying to God many times that men would also experience periods; had that been the case, perhaps a provision for period leave would have been included in employment contracts.

Soha Ali Khan also made a humorous comment on the topic during the podcast, suggesting that if men had periods, they might have even started competing over who had the worst menstrual experience.

Shruti Haasan also recounted an experience involving a male co-star. She noted that because he was struggling with a knee surgery, the shooting schedule was adjusted to accommodate his physical condition.

Witnessing this, Shruti decided to open up to a director about her own menstrual issues for the first time. The director took it in stride, mentioning that his own daughter also suffered from severe pain during her period. This experience shifted Shruti's perspective on speaking openly about menstruation in the workplace.

Shruti further revealed that she has dealt with PCOS from a young age. This condition also caused her anxiety regarding future motherhood—a topic she has spoken about publicly in recent times.

In her view, there should be no atmosphere of discomfort or hesitation in the workplace regarding menstruation or women's hormonal health issues. Rather, it is essential for women to have adequate rest, support, and the opportunity to talk about the matter when needed.