Swati Tewari
Its not everyday that one gets to hear women of substance speak, but when they do, all you can do is keep listening a wish it never gets over! I had a similar experience when I got to interact with the diva Madhuri Dixit during a recent press meet at Kolkata where the entire Gulaab Gang team was present to promote the upcoming flick. Not to forget, the media had its wow moment when, clad in a yellow anarkali, walked in the resplendent beauty. Sigh! Here is a detailed account of the interaction!
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-red” ]Q.[/highlight] On women characters:
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-green” ]A.[/highlight] I don’t believe that women were arm candy ever in Indian cinema. There were also films made from the beginning say like Mother India or Saheb Biwi Aur Gulam. There were a lot of films that were made that were all , you know everything to do with the heroine, I think there was a time when it change a little bit, but in my time I think I was a little fortunate that within the commercial format I got to do different roles like in Beta, Tezaab or Mrityudand , you know powerful women characters, but today I think times have changed in the sense that I don’t remember seeing directors as women. I have never seen women handling a camera and today I see that. A lot of women are into directing, script writing and much more. This is heartening. And of course when you have directors like Soumik (Sen) who write for women, have the respect and a different way of looking at women, I think we have been fortunate.
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-red” ]Q.[/highlight] On the kind of roles she enjoys:
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-green” ]A.[/highlight] I always say yes to the type of roles I like playing. I am a baby of commercial cinema. I have worked in a film like Raja, a completely mad, funny comedy and if I am offered a script like that again, I would love to do such comedy movies too.
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-red” ]Q.[/highlight] On working with Soumik Sen:
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-green” ]A.[/highlight] It was wonderful working with him. The script was so beautifully written, I never imagined a movie with both the main roles i.e, the good and the evil, being played by women. I think that’s what is wonderful about this movie. It is so relevant in today’s time when you see what’s happening around us, whether in Delhi or Mumbai. In present day so many issues have come up on how women are treated. I think it was the right time for such a movie to come up as it talks about women empowerment, educating women and all this written by a man, I think that is wonderful., I am very optimistic that there will be a time when the way a man looks at a woman will change.
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-red” ]Q.[/highlight] On Rajjo:
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-green” ]A.[/highlight] Unlike in Lajja where I was a victim myself and later I stood up for myself, and fought back, Rajjo is already empowered, she is a crusader, she is helping other women. She is giving them a voice, to become independent, get education. Not just women, she is helping the society in general to stand against injustice. And of course, when it comes to it, she doesn’t hesitate picking up the lathi and literally fight against injustice.
I didn’t have to work very hard to become Rajjo. I think everybody feels that anger for what’s happening in the society. All I did was just direct the anger and channelize it, and understood that this is what Rajjo stands for. A lot of her beliefs are my beliefs so it was pretty easy to get into the character. I think the more difficult part was the hand to hand combat and the action sequences which we worked on.
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-red” ]Q.[/highlight] On women empowerment:
[highlight highlightColor=”highlight-green” ]A.[/highlight] I believe that women should have their own voice and must be independent. I do believe in feminism but do not believe in all the naarebazi. I feel that the government should make new agendas for women, and look at the society today and then make rules accordingly. Men also need to be educated properly because education has information and that helps to change the way you look at things. You are taught a lot of things so that is very necessary. Children, especially girls should be taught in school what to do in crisis situations.
Well, we feel the same Madhuri! For more, watch Gulaab Gang that releases on March 7.
