Dancers don't get marriage proposals'

Deedar talks double standards in culture

Deedar spoke to Wasi Shah about the challenges associated with making a name in the entertainment industry, especially when it comes to establishing a profession as a dance performer.

"We live in a country where people find it difficult to accept this profession. And I'm not just talking about stage performances but film and television as well. When it comes to women, all three things are not accepted," she said.

Deedar believes that there is a stark difference in opinions that can be observed when such a topic is raised. She wondered how she would've carried herself had she been a housewife instead. "But now that I'm here, showbiz is what I'm in love with. Now this is my world, my home, and essentially everything," she expressed.

Deedar did, however, confess to feeling disheartened by the sturdiness of cultural norms after years of hard work. "We can't progress past this even in the next hundred years. That's just how culture is," she added.

"Here, if a girl knows how to sing or dance, she isn't considered fit for marriage," the performer said, agreeing that despite this societal belief, elaborate dance performances are organised in the same wedding events.

"I don't mean to offend any viewers, but I would like to mention this," she said, before breaking down the details of the festivities. "A proper choreographer is hired, and relatives - male to female - dance at these events. And as for the clothes that they don for such occasions, perhaps we as artists might not be able to wear them at all."

Deedar understands that bold fashion choices for celebrities, especially those making public appearances, are sure to stir controversies. "These are double standards. At domestic functions, you'll have dance performances choreographed by unrelated men, you'll also find people wearing skimpy clothes, yet all that is accepted in that setting," she pointed out.

Like many media personalities prone to the onslaught of hateful comments, Deedar admitted to falling prey to harsh criticism, even if it might be minor in comparison to the positive responses. "Against a thousand good reactions, five bad ones are sure to stand out," she lamented.