Huma Qureshi, Nitya Mehra and others weigh in on the gender debate

At an event organized by Breakthrough Trust, various influential voices of Bollywood collectively underlined the powerful impact of cinema in shaping social attitudes and cultural norms. She emphasized that films have the ability not only to entertain but also to reflect and influence how gender roles and relationships are understood in society. Speakers called for an urgent change within the industry, advocating for the creation of a more gender-sensitive environment that promotes equal opportunities, diverse representation and inclusive narratives. He emphasized that promoting such a culture is essential to eliminate long-standing stereotypes and prejudices, which will ultimately lead to positive social change through storytelling.

Huma Qureshi, actor

Is there any scope for improvement? Definitely. I can definitely get paid as much as my male co-stars. Having said that, have things changed? Certainly, I think there are better parts being written for women, where they are not just an accessory to the hero's journey, but actually have more agency. And this is happening with a lot of shows and movies focused on women. I have been lucky enough to act in some of them. On a different note, I loved movies like Khoon Bhari Maang in my childhood, that's what you like. And I would think that I too can fight my own battle, I don't need anyone to come and save me. And I think that no matter what the genre, as long as we're just putting women out there, not trying to shut them down, thinking that these things are acceptable or not acceptable, I'm absolutely fine. . Let's include some more toxic women in movies. Let's get some toxic moms. Why should mother be holier than thou?

For example, I did a film called Monica, Oh My Darling. And I actually remember being pulled up by a journalist who said, Oh, but you're playing a vamp. And I think, sorry, this whole movie is full of great characters, but you chose to call me a vamp in an interview. So this reflects your mindset too, right? I'm just a character making the best choices, probably using my body to get what I want. And why are you putting a judgmental lens on it in the first place?

Vijay Krishna Acharya

Vijay Krishna Acharya, (Director and screenwriter)

Perhaps small things will be the way forward, something that is already happening. As a man, gender is a privilege for me. I had to learn how to look at things differently. And thankfully, I have my two daughters and my wife to make sure of that.

Sohini Bhattacharya

Sohini Bhattacharya, (CEO, Breakthrough)

As the entertainment landscape evolves, we want to partner with it to enable more gender-sensitive content. I think this call is not ours alone, but women themselves are demanding such content. This call to action is an important step towards reshaping the future of cinema and promoting gender equality in the industry. We are trying to come together as a group and find a common ground to build a community and work on the value of gender progressive stories and why they matter. Construction of the companion ship is the first step in this direction.

Nitya Mehra

Nitya Mehra, (Director and screenwriter)

Stories have long been told by men, so the values ​​we get from these stories come largely from the male perspective. So I think a lot needs to be done and we're nowhere near there. But, yes, I am very fortunate to have been a part of that generation where, as a filmmaker, I have had the privilege of telling the stories that I want to. And I feel like a lot has changed with OTT as well.