Amitabh gets tailor-made roles, I don’t: Hema Malini on male privilege in Bollywood

Veteran Indian actor Hema Malini has worked in over 150 films during her illustrious career spanning five decades. From Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay to Dream Girl and Satte Pe Satta, Malini has played a wide range of characters while juggling multiple genres. But she is yet to play a role specifically written for her.

In a recent interview with Mid-Day, she noted that male actors like Amitabh Bachchan get tailor-made roles, while female actors are not provided with the same opportunities. The Baghban star claimed that she is waiting for a character that is written for her, so that she can explore her range as an actor too.

“Where are the opportunities today? Even today, author-backed roles are not found for actresses; they are reserved for male actors,” she said. “Mr Amitabh Bachchan gets such great roles even now; they are written specially for him. But such special roles have not been written for actresses. If someone can write a [tailor-made] role keeping me in mind, it would be nice. I think I too am capable of performing well.”

She also added, “I’m waiting to explore different kinds of roles, from dramatic to out of the box. The role has to be amazing, so that I can say yes immediately, but nobody has offered me anything like that yet. As an artiste, I would always want to do exciting projects. I will never say no to acting. It’s my passion."

In the last few decades, Malini has featured in many films including Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970), Jaaneman (1976), Kinara (1977), Do Aur Do Paanch (1980), (1982), and Apne Apne (1987).

But while she is still waiting for that perfect role, Bachchan has been busy with several exciting projects. The veteran actor has been working on Nag Ashwin's Project K, a bilingual film that also stars Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. It is reportedly a sci-fi drama that explores the concept of time travel. Bachchan's involvement in the project has generated a lot of buzz, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release. He will also be seen in Ribhu Dasgupta's courtroom drama Section 84. The film will see him play a judge and will also feature Diana Penty, Nimrat Kaur, and Abhishek Banerjee.

Malini's comments about the lack of author-backed roles for females highlights the need for more diversity and inclusivity in the Indian film industry. While Bachchan's recent roles showcase his versatility and dedication to his craft, it is pertinent to note that every actor deserves the opportunity to explore their range.

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