Somy Ali, who was seen in Bollywood movies from 1991 to 1998 and currently runs her non-profit organisation No More Tears in Florida, stressed that it will truly be a celebration of women only when women feel safe. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is observed on March 8, when asked what must change in India for women to be truly safe, she said, “Survivors must be believed. I spoke up and was ostracised, attacked, and shunned. My friends abandoned me. My story was dismissed. My work was banned. Why? Because powerful men still control the world. The women I help through No More Tears always tell me the same thing: ‘I was afraid no one would believe me.’ India needs more than just laws on paper—it needs real enforcement, real protection, and real change.” “If I had the opportunity, I would establish domestic violence shelters in every rural village—safe havens where women could escape their abusers without fear. These shelters would be run by female staff and trusted security personnel trained to protect, not intimidate. We must educate children about stranger danger, body autonomy, and what is and isn’t acceptable. Because prevention starts with awareness. India is my father’s land, and I will never stop fighting for its women. My dream is to see a world where survivors don’t have to scream to be heard—because they are believed the first time they speak. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this: Change is coming. And I will be part of it,” she added. She further mentioned women like Malala Yousafzai, Mukhtaran Mai, and Michelle Obama and said that these women have defied oppression, challenged power, and made history.
As for India, she said, “Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone stand out for their advocacy in human rights and mental health. But I also deeply respect the nameless women who have fought in silence—domestic violence survivors, women trapped in trafficking, and those who never got their chance to tell their stories.” A message to fellow women? “We rise. No matter how many times they try to silence us, we rise. No matter how much power they have, we rise. Because truth is stronger than any lie, and justice is louder than any silence. To every survivor out there: They thought they could bury you. They didn’t realise you were a seed. And we are growing. And we will never be silenced again,” Somy added.
