Women rising in the ranks in Bollywood says Mahduri

Madhuri talks Gulab Gang and the importance of giving women voice.

KOLKOTA: Lauding Gulaab Gang director, Soumik Sen, for scripting a woman-centric film, actor Madhuri Dixit said on Friday that women have risen to prominence in the film industry and are essaying diverse roles from scripting to direction.

Madhuri also noted the changing trend of directors perceiving women in unconventional roles. “I see lot of women in script-writing, lot of women directing movies, so I think the women have not only been relegated to those jobs considered ‘women’s jobs’ like say hair dresser or an actor  — these were the only two women seen on the set previously but today we see a lot of them and that is what is happening,” she told the media while promoting Gulaab Gang.

Gulaab Gang is directed by Soumik Sen and produced by Anubhav Sinha. The film also features Huma Qureshi and Juhi Chawla.”There is an emergence of new sensibilities  — directors like Soumik who write films for women who have that respect and different way of looking at women and we are fortunate to have such directors to write scripts for us and this is a great time for women and films in general,” she said.

The actor highlighted the film’s relevance as it deals with burning topics such as to women’s rights. “I never imagined a film with both roles  — good and evil  — being played by women... I think that’s wonderful and of course it’s so relevant in today’s time. You see, you look around what’s happening in Delhi and Mumbai.... women’s safety and there are so many issues that have come to light about how women are treated in society and I thought this was the right time for a film like this to be made because it talks of women’s empowerment,” she said.

“It talks about educating women and this has been written by a man and I am optimistic that there will be a time when the way a man looks at a woman will change and it is already happening,” she explained, adding that women must be taught self-defence.

The actor who has given power-packed performances in films like Lajja and Mrityudand believes in the feminism that stems from within. “I do believe women should have their own voice, they should be independent, they should stand on their own. I do believe in feminism but I don’t believe in the naare-baazi (slogan-shouting) and all.... it should come from within and it should be there for everyone,” she said.

While branding herself a “commercial cinema baby,” actor Madhuri, who will be seen playing a crusading activist in the upcoming Gulaab Gang, also shared her desire to do another comedy, provided the script is to her liking.

“I did films like Raja, which was a mad funny comedy and I am not averse to that and if I am offered a film like that and I like the script, then I am open to do that... I would love to do a completely off-the-roof kind of comedy, “she told the media here while promoting Gulaab Gang.

Gulaab Gang is expected to release March 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2014.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.