And therefore, to have a woman like Begum Jaan, it’s very unique. That’s what I found most powerful, because you don’t expect the so-called weaker sections of society to stand up. They are staking their claims to their share of the sky, which is incredible. Within that, prostitutes are what, a trickle? But, they are the ones who are standing up on their feet, putting up a fight and saying this is not acceptable to us. Women are a marginalised section of society even though we are 50% of the society. Heroes emerge from different corners of society. We want real stories we can connect with. I don’t think any one of us really want to be told a fairy-tale. I think because today, we are no longer looking for fairy-tales. It’s been a long time since we have had such an in-your-face representation of prostitutes.
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I will say that there have been some realistic representations of bar dancers and courtesans, prostitutes. What is the difference you see in Hindi cinema, or directors and filmmakers like Srijit Mukherji when they treat a character who is a bar dancer, courtesan and when they treat a character who is Begum Jaan, an unabashed sex worker? She is no bar dancer, no courtesan, the characters that Hindi cinema has comfortably been dealing with. She is a sex worker, she is a prostitute…Įxactly. When you do a film like Begum Jaan, where the writer and director has carved a character who has no filter. She is like that pillar that can wear any storm.Īlso read: Watch interview: Blaming Bollywood is not the solution, says Kalki Koechlin on bringing gender equality in the film industry She doesn’t need anyone, any shoulder to lean on. I just think what blew me about Begum Jaan is the fact that she is so powerful. If you try messing with her, ‘Tumhare haath, per or jism ka vo kya kehte hain… partison kar dege’ (laughs). So, do you take pride in considering yourself as a woman who’s Begum Jaan, a completely fearless, unabashed character? We were on the threshold of that change when I began to do these films.
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But, I think this was bound to happen anyway. I am so glad I did, which is why I have this attached to my name. And I am a greedy actor who chose roles that people had said no to in the past. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. But, I don’t think I am the face of that change. Here are some of the excerpts:ĭo you consider yourself as that air which has brought a change in Hindi cinema for women? In the interview, she talked about a range of things from accepting the character, her idea of Begum Jaan, to why she’s not a feminist and Bollywood’s treatment of sex workers. Vidya was in Delhi for the film’s promotion where she talked to InUth. The actress who has been doing some fierce female-oriented characters has yet again become a woman who is, as she says, ‘ferocious, unabashed and completely unapologetic for being that kind of a woman.’ Vidya Balan is gearing up for Begum Jaan, her next film, directed by national award-winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji.