Anushka Sharma completes 7 years of being in Bollywood this year. Yay! The woman is fun, funny, graceful and smart – all the things I love in my kind of woman basically. The lovely Anupama Chopra did a candid interview with her where they did not mince their words.
Sexism in Bollywood was brought up and Anushka – who hasn’t shied away from talking about it in the past either – did not hold back:
1. On the roles available for women…
Girls are just expected to be good-looking. Look nice and just be interesting enough for a guy to be interested in you in a film. Women doing films together – they only come together in a film when there’s a guy involved.
2. On the “heroines” getting younger and younger…
Men can work as long as they want to even when they’ve aged. They’re still amazing and cool. And I have no problem with that. But why is that women are only okay when they’re “young and desirable”? There’s a sexual connotation attached.
3. On how deeply ingrained sexism is…
If you’re on an outdoor schedule, you know that the guy is going to get the better room. Why does that need to happen?
4. On the wage gap…
A few years ago, when people were being asked this question, they were being diplomatic about it. Today we’re talking about it because in all walks of life, women are earning money and the power game has shifted. A female newcomer and a male newcomer will get paid different amounts of money. You’re a newcomer, nobody knows who you are, man or woman doesn’t matter. But you’re going to get paid different money.
5. On being a woman in the industry…
People tell me I’m an activist. They say you’re saying these kinds of things – that makes you an activist. I think people don’t like women with guts in this industry.
6. On what makes one a bitch…
If you’re asking for something that you think you deserve, you’re a bitch. “She has an attitude problem. Isko kitna attitude hai”! We aren’t dumb. We haven’t come this far in life being floozies. All the actresses in the industry are smart are smart. Obviously they’re not being unreasonable. But if they’re making a suggestion, they’re told they’re being “difficult”.