Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Marriage Not A Disqualification In Bollywood: Shabana Azmi

IANS, 03 Apr, 2017 11:37 AM
  • Marriage Not A Disqualification In Bollywood: Shabana Azmi
She has been married for over three decades to veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar and has essayed powerful roles in Bollywood in her 44-year journey. Acclaimed performer and social activist Shabana Azmi doesn't see marriage as a "disqualification" for female actors in the Hindi film industry.
 
"I think it is a very old way of thinking that marriage is detrimental to the careers of female actors. This is no longer the case... To say that marriage is a disqualification for parts, I do not agree with it," Shabana told IANS over phone from Mumbai. 
 
The 66-year-old star says actresses get married at an appropriate age now.
 
"What happens is girls get married at an age when they are ready for it, by which time they have played their parts as leading ladies that are sort of in the heroine mode. By the time they get married, they look for more substantial parts and so the parts that come their way are appropriate to their age," added the actress, who was feted with Padma Shri in 1988. 
 
Shabana, who through her work strongly supports the empowerment of women, says the role of women in Indian cinema has changed greatly.
 
"If you look at the 1960s, you see Meena Kumari was the heroine for the film that was titled 'Main Chup Rahungi' -- remaining silent was considered a virtue for women," she said, adding how it was left to the parallel cinema to portray women differently.
 
 
"This fortunately is changing... Because of the weight that many of our female actors have brought to the films and their parts, more and more such films are being written, and importantly they are being commercially successful."
 
"We can't say that we want films about empowered women, change and justice unless these are films that are going to be embraced by the audience," added the actress, who has worked in films like "Ankur", "Arth", "Fire", "Makdee" and "Neerja".
 
All said and done, Shabana says producers who pump in a lot money into films are here for business.
 
"Some feel strongly about being committed to a social cause, others feel strongly committed to entertainment -- both are equally valid because finally it's a choice each artiste has to make," she added.
 
Shabana feels the film industry is age-centric, but this is also changing.
 
"If you look in my own career graph in the last 10 years, probably I have had the most challenging roles of my life... I was just recounting to somebody that I have five films lined up for release. Two of them are American productions -- one is called 'Signature Move' and the other is 'The Black Prince'."
 
"Then I have Premchand's 'Idgah', 'Sonata' and 'The Wishing Tree'. All these roles are as different as you can possibly imagine." 
 
The actress says it's a rich variety of roles that is coming her way at 66, and it makes her happy. 

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

Not Pressurised By Anyone's Expectations, Says Rajkumar Rao

Not Pressurised By Anyone's Expectations, Says Rajkumar Rao
Actor Rajkumar Rao, who is known for his phenomenal performances, said he doesn't feel any external pressure due to the expectations people have from him as he "loves to explore" his characters.

Not Pressurised By Anyone's Expectations, Says Rajkumar Rao

'Baahubali: The Beginning' Was Starters, Now Comes Actual Meal: Rajamouli

'Baahubali: The Beginning' Was Starters, Now Comes Actual Meal: Rajamouli
Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli, busy with the production of his much-awaited "Baahubali: The Conclusion", says the first part of the movie was just a starter.

'Baahubali: The Beginning' Was Starters, Now Comes Actual Meal: Rajamouli

It Was Fun To Play Non-living Character In 'Phillauri': Anushka

It Was Fun To Play Non-living Character In 'Phillauri': Anushka
Bollywood actor-producer Anushka Sharma who is playing a ghost bride in her second production "Phillauri" says it was fun to play a "non-living" character.

It Was Fun To Play Non-living Character In 'Phillauri': Anushka

Phillauri: Anushka Hilariously Photoshops Herself Into Jai-Veeru's Bike

Phillauri: Anushka Hilariously Photoshops Herself Into Jai-Veeru's Bike
Anushka Sharma recently shared a hilarious picture of Phillauri's Shashi along with Jai-Veeru in Sholay's iconic song Yeh Dosti

Phillauri: Anushka Hilariously Photoshops Herself Into Jai-Veeru's Bike

Thugs Of Hindostan? Aamir Khan Goes Shirtless Dons 'Thug' Look For Magazine Cover

Thugs Of Hindostan? Aamir Khan Goes Shirtless Dons 'Thug' Look For Magazine Cover
Aamir Khan switches from Dangal life to thug life. His Filmfare shoot looks are setting style goals for the year.

Thugs Of Hindostan? Aamir Khan Goes Shirtless Dons 'Thug' Look For Magazine Cover

See Wedding Pics: Hrishitaa Bhatt Gets Married To UN Diplomat Anand Tiwari

See Wedding Pics: Hrishitaa Bhatt Gets Married To UN Diplomat Anand Tiwari
The 35-year-old-actress met husband Anand Tiwari, senior diplomat with the United Nations, and the couple struck a chord instantly, as did their families. 

See Wedding Pics: Hrishitaa Bhatt Gets Married To UN Diplomat Anand Tiwari