Are they mere props in films? Or have actresses become game changers? At Screens The Big Picture,a few Bollywood heavyweights discuss the evolving role of women in film industry Working in the film industry wasnt considered an honourable profession until 15 years ago. But there is a marked difference in the scenario and that is for everyone to see. I didnt have to face as many biases when I transitioned from being an actor to an actor-producer, said Lara Dutta,whose debut project Chalo Dilli released recently. Dutta was one of the panelists at Screens The Big Picture forum that discussed the topic Bollywood's leading ladies: as they were and as they are. Her fellow panelists included veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai,singer Shilpa Rao,National award-winning director Bhavna Talwar and fashion designer Manish Malhotra. Acknowledging Duttas remark,Ghai added that 15 years ago,most women in the industry,barring the actresses,were the ones with jobs in back-office. On a lighter vein,he added,Even the actresses have become more confident of themselves. Earlier,they would come to the sets with their mom,dad or an uncle. Today,its only the manager,who,in most cases,is also a woman. Talking about women who work behind the screen,Rao pointed out that playback singers have evolved from being voices of the heroine to a storyteller for both men and women characters of a film. According to Malhotra,woman have moved on from being merely an object of desire in films. Proof: Today films such as No One Killed Jessica and Fashion,with no male lead,are becoming box-office hits. Dutta pointed out that the scenario wasnt as pitiful back in the 1950s and 1960s when films such as Mother India,Aandhi and Aradhana relied on the female protagonist. Its the emergence of the macho hero in the 1970s that changed it all, she quipped. She felt that the change on-screen will continue to be limited unless there are more female writers. Yes,we are moving on from the traditional image of a woman as the homemaker and sati-savitri but men are still grappling with the new woman. So the representation of a modern woman in films often gets limited to one who smokes and drinks. Talwar,however,added that it is important also to not expect women to be a part of only those films that speak of womens liberation or have a cause attached to them. Its important to move away from activist mode and do films that one wants to do,even if they are big-budget commercial films that only aim to entertain. Only then can equality be achieved, said Talwar,adding that a woman directors film is still considered risky unless its a small-budget venture. Rao,however,questioned whether men in the industry are ready and willing to handle women as leaders. Are they getting equal opportunities? There is still a dearth of female music composers in the industry, she said. The topic of reigning actresses being paid much less than their male counterparts has always been hotly debated. Ghai was asked why the difference in the amounts remains significantly high. The answer lies with the audience, he said. They still consider the hero as the main attraction of a film and are willing to pay for the ticket depending on which male actor features in it. Concluding the discussion,Dutta accepted Ghais point-of-view as a filmmaker. She added that womens standing in the film industry is changing but one still operates within the set framework. Its the norm everywhere even Hollywood pays male actors more than their female counterparts. Its important to note that after all,everyone is in this industry to make money. One has to work within limitations to ensure that one does not lose out. A detailed report of the event follows in Screen issue dated May 20
