Still from Dear Zindagi
Feminism as a concept is not at all difficult to understand but still many fail to comprehend what it is and often don’t want to be associated with it. Especially in Bollywood, it’s a recurring scenario, celebrities, except for a few, shy away from associating themselves with feminism because perhaps, it’ll restrict their options in the competitive industry.
The actor who has been vocal about his stand on being a feminist, said something that has upset many women on the Internet. Yes, Shah Rukh Khan who has been busy promoting his latest release Dear Zindagi with Alia Bhat, said that he doesn’t want to sound ‘pro feminist’ during an interview with a national daily.
When told that the director of the film Gauri Shinde and Alia were overwhelmed with his presence on the sets of the film despite having gone through various reading sessions, Shah Rukh said, “I don’t want to sound pro-feminist and say that these girls have made a beautiful film yaar, but they really have.”
The statement hasn’t gone down well with many on the Internet who called him out for being ‘patronising’ in his tone. Here’s what he exactly said.
“This film is extremely important not only for me but for them, too. I don’t want to sound pro-feminist and say that these girls have made a beautiful film yaar, but they really have. I’ve always said that I enjoy making films with women. This is Gauri’s second film and Alia’s ninth. I’m aware that they have this respect towards me, but I haven’t made them feel that way, they were just kind to feel that. I guess as we started spending time together, they realised that I’m as sweetly silly as they are, and also as lost in terms of trying to do a film which speaks their language.”
This is what people had to say.
Dear @iamsrk, what does ‘pro-feminist’ mean & why wouldn’t you want to sound like that? Also, ‘these girls’, really? They are grown women! pic.twitter.com/eCLZj5PjcR
— Japleen Pasricha (@japna_p) November 25, 2016
@japna_p @iamsrk jesus seriously Shahrukh Khan needs to understand that feminism is not a gaali.
— Jinnah’s Republic (@theRealYLH) November 25, 2016
@japna_p @iamsrk “Not to sound like I am pro equal rights for all genders or anything” because Bollywood. Heartbroken :(
— QuirkSand (@Ravin_Ray) November 25, 2016
Why don’t you want to sound like that, Shah Rukh? It’s not a bad way to sound. Maa kasam. pic.twitter.com/xp3n6G1XBd
— Vedashree Khambete (@theotherveda) November 25, 2016
Is it bait? Or just ignorance? pic.twitter.com/COPduXJyI4
— BookOfGenesia (@genesiaalves) November 25, 2016
The word you might be looking for is ‘patronising’, SRK pic.twitter.com/YCkw10xrWv
— Sameera Khan (@samjourno123) November 25, 2016
https://t.co/3t5n3SIcVY @iamsrk you broke my heart by being so ignorant and wrong about a basic principle of humanity in the modern world.
— Namrata Parekh (@Namrataparekh) November 22, 2016
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