Bollywood actresses Neena Gupta and Madhuri Dixit spoke out on the eve of International Women’s Day on the shifting landscape of Indian content in terms of female performers and how this development may lead to a more inclusive atmosphere.
Neena Gupta, speaking on the occasion, stated that the progress of the entertainment industry has been in perfect tune with the evolving society. “The entertainment space has evolved, alongside our evolution as a society. As women become breadwinners, lead businesses & teams, and became central figures in every aspect of life, the roles that were offered to me became central to the story. In today’s scripts, roles for women are not dependent on a man, rather stand on their own.”
Madhuri Dixit went on to say, “On the margins of streaming platform Netflix’s women’s day programme ‘Stree-ming, “I love that every day I get to see more stories that reflect the lives of incredible women – portraying all their layers, shades, and flaws. It’s safe to say there’s no going back. We are not just a part of the story, but we are the story.”
She went on to say that a lot of the development in Indian programming has come from women who work behind the camera to create interesting stories. “More women writers, directors, producers have also acted as a powerful driving force behind this change. Behind the screen, inclusivity is critical not only in amplifying voices that are not always heard but also because it creates opportunities for stories that might not otherwise have been told.”
In the last several decades, Indian content has experienced a sea change, with women no longer being recruited in films or audio-visual material only on the basis of their attractiveness. Rather, it is their capacity to put on great performances that is laying the groundwork for a more equal society one frame at a time.
Madhuri Dixit expressed her thoughts on the matter, saying, “There has been an evolution, and the evolution has been tremendous. Women are no longer just pretty faces or avenging angels. Today women are viewed as whole people, playing different characters from different professions – whether it’s a mathematician or a sportswoman or a housewife with unfulfilled aspirations, women are taking on different roles every day and it’s fascinating to see this change in the industry.”
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