Raveena Tandon not interested in joining politics

Actor says system prevents those who really want to help bring about change.

Actor Raveena Tandon, who has actively raised voice against various social issues during her 25-year-long film career, recently said that unlike her co-stars Govinda and Shatrughan Sinha, she is not interested in joining politics.

Raveena, who has wrapped up shooting for her upcoming film Maatr — The Mother, feels that politics in not a place for her to be in. “Politics? No, not right now. Even if you want to make a difference in the world, unfortunately I feel the good people get stopped everywhere,” Raveena said on the set of the Ashtar Sayyed directorial, which was wrapped up on Thursday.

Talking about why she is not interested in joining politics, Raveena, who played a politician in Satta, said, “Around 10 years ago, there was still respect for the higher authorities or officers. But today what you see on social media, the way top politicians are abusing each other openly... There is no respect left. I don’t think there is any dignity left in what people are doing these days... just see the politicians’ remarks and the way they’re teasing each other.”

Maatr — The Mother, which features Slumdog Millionaire actor Madhur Mittal as antagonist focuses on justice for women who are victims of violence and rape. Pointing out at the severity of the situation of crimes against women in the country, Raveena steered the conversation to the increase in juvenile crime cases.

“There are very few countries that still have 18 years as the age for juvenile. Most of the countries have moved it down to 14 or 16. We are still struck at 18. I’m not someone who is asking for death penalty (for any kind of violence against women)... That shouldn’t happen. I’m not hungry for blood. One should evaluate to what extent the crime has been done. According to me, the juvenile age should be lowered,” said the actor.

A release date for Maatr — The Mother has yet to be finalised.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2016.

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