When it comes to feminism and portraying women in films, Bollywood has a storied history. On the silver screen, women have either surrendered to male dominance or simply played the chaotic role of men. But in the last few years, things have changed and the current generation has female actors and filmmakers taking charge and taking the shots. They are more daring in their choices, and more fierce in their performance. In today’s scripts, roles for women do not depend on a man, but stand on their own.
With each passing year, this development has become apparent. Brilliant or flawed, police officers or thieves, the women on our screens have become so much more than heroines and love interests.
Ahead of International Women’s Day, Netflix released a special with Aanchal Singh (Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen), Zayn Marie Khan (Feeling Like Ishq), Surveen Chawla (Decoupled), Aahana Kumra (Call My Agent) and Aditi Pohankar (She). Organized panel discussion. Who talked about getting a foothold in an industry that until recently was dominated by men, and whether the industry has become an equal opportunity. Part:
Until a few years ago, female actors could not escape the question of whether soulful roles were written about them. With some amazing performances over the years, can we put this debate to rest?
zayn marie khan: I don’t think we should give it a rest because I don’t want us to give up or lose steam. Yes, we have made a lot of progress and especially as actors we know the kind of narratives we are getting are so deep and layered. This is a great relief. We haven’t reached where we should be. It’s a nicer and better place but definitely not a happy place and our final destination. As female actors, we cannot sit back and relax. We are on the right track, but there is still a long way to go.
Ahaan Kumra: I agree with Zayn, we should not lose momentum and if that happens, we women will not get the roles that we are getting today. Let me give you an example from my own movie Lipstick Under My Burkha in 2017. The film was banned from coming to theaters and no promotion was done for the film. The only way we marketed that film was online. The entire cast including Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sharma, Plabita Borthakur, our director Alankrita Srivastava and I sat in a panel and interviewed. Those conversations changed me as a woman. I came into the film industry, where people always used to say, ‘It is important to look glamorous, look beautiful and have a fit body, look ugly and don’t act smart’. Me? I don’t want to succumb to just playing glamorous characters. I want to play good characters and I can choose to do that today because I have that medium.
Aditi Pohankar: I was really lucky to work with Imtiaz Ali as I remember my first brief from Sir was, ‘Jitna ganda ho khaite, tni gaddi dikho’. He took my look test and told me not to do any makeup and just be myself. So thankfully I didn’t go through the rote process of going through a series of auditions. I remember that in my auditions, I had to perform with my own eyes and show different emotions. At the same time, I debuted with Lai Bhaari, the typical heroine role where my hair was flying and I was dancing around trees. When people asked me how I played a role in She, I always tell them I played a character.
We have often seen that women are called one’s wife or daughter. In Zayn’s case she is referred to as Aamir Khan’s niece. Do you think it is difficult for women to make their own identity?
Zayn Marie Khan: Think the choice I made speaks for itself. Not many people know who I belong to and I like to keep it that way. I go to a room and I don’t know who is Ahana’s uncle, so why would anyone know who my uncle is? Thankfully I was brought up and taught to stand on my own feet.
Surveen Chawla: Sometimes, privilege really works as a loss because of unnecessary pressure and sympathy and what you have carried in your lineage. Hypothetically, Zayn could use his lineage and play a role but he still has to prove himself and do so throughout his journey. I am saying this on his behalf because I find this nepotism debate a pointless argument. It is not her fault that she is Aamir Khan’s niece. I feel it is important to stop giving star kids the limelight they don’t deserve before they can prove themselves. You make them a star even before they even start their first project.
Zayn Marie Khan: I completely agree with him. I think everyone should be glad that I have got a chance to make my career out of my good fortune because my father (Mansoor Khan) is gone and I feel like working whatever it takes and earning that respect. need to do what they are entitled to.
Aahana Kumra: Zayn and I did a play together and for the longest time I was not aware that he was related to some famous person because it didn’t matter. She is an actress and she deserves to do what she is good at. People need to stop being obsessed with Star Kids and this will help us do our bit.
Taapsee Pannu mentioned in one of her interviews that due to OTT, it has become an equal opportunity for all the actors. Do you see this changing?
Aditi Pohankar: It has happened before. We made films like Baazaar which had some great performances, the only thing different at that time was what we called art cinema and today it is getting a proper release. Today glamorous women are also doing de-glam roles. Attitude is changing.
Surveen Chawla: I think what is being sold is not male or female, it is the stories. The audience isn’t stupid and they have an IQ and EQ and they don’t want to see anything crap. They don’t want to see men and women dancing around the trees. It’s content that’s selling what it always should have been. I think gender discrimination should not come in the headlines.
Aahana Kumra: Having said that, watching women on screen is far more fun. I am tired of seeing a male chauvinistic man trying to save the world or a woman. I love to see women headlining shows. Women have been waiting in the wings for a long time. Now is the time as there are so many platforms available and writers are writing some great characters. I’m not saying they all write or present good material because I still get cop roles (laughs) because you look a certain type. They cannot see us in a certain light because they are a conservative woman.
Surveen Chawla: Stereotyping is not for men. It only exists for female actors.
Aanchal Singh: Talking about this, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Netflix and the makers of Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen for always giving me cute girl roles. They always used to say that you have worked in commercials for shampoo and facial products where you look good so you will get those roles. I wanted to audition for many roles but I was not even given a chance to do so. Suddenly after Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen now people are giving me negative character which is really funny. It amuses me how people look at you and put you in a slot. I
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