By Lipi Mehta:
Priyanka Chopra just embraced the word feminist. Oh yes, she did. In an interview about her show Quantico in September 2015, she had said it isn’t a “bra-burning feminist show where you’re like, we hate men.” However, on Barkha Dutt’s ‘Townhall’ series last night, she said she is a proud feminist and doesn’t equate feminism to man-hating. That was quite a U-turn, PC and good on you for finally saying it like it is at a time when ‘feminism’ has become a bad word for many in the film industry.
After two Bollywood hits (‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani‘) and a People’s Choice Award nomination for Quantico, 2015 has been a great year for Priyanka Chopra and boy, did she end it on a high note in this interview. Priyanka boldly admitted that she regrets endorsing fairness creams and openly spoke about how she was teased as a child and called ‘kaali‘ (‘dark’), because of her dusky complexion.
She also expressed solidarity with the LGBT community and spoke about wage inequality in the film business. It’s extremely important that at a time when ‘intolerance‘ seems to be the word of the year, one of India’s leading actors and globally recognised figures took a strong stance for feminism and equal rights. I do wish she had made a stronger statement on censorship in India instead of pointing a finger at the audience, but regardless, this interview is worth a watch and worth sharing!
Jigsaw
Many actresses are paid more than their male counterparts. People are paid according to talent, experience, skill, professionalism, etc. Feminists love playing victim, without which their heinous agenda cannot thrive. Throw in words like 'inequality' or 'patriarchy' and you are good to go. If there is any inequality, it is against men, not women.
Aisha
Yes, clearly you seem like an expert in this field (that was sarcasm by the way)!!!
I love how when ever women raise the issue of inequality, sexism or feminism, we always get some men crying about it and telling us to shut up and act as if they know more about sexism than women do.
If you want to make the claims you are making, please provide some evidence.
Monistaf
The last time I checked, indentured labour is outlawed in India. If Ms. Chopra feels she is not being compensated fairly for her talent, let her take it elsewhere where she is paid what she thinks she deserves. And, from what I can tell, she has successfully done that. Guess what men do when they are treated unfairly at work? Most of them just try and find another job instead of complaining that they are treated unfairly only because they are men and they are entitled to better and fairer treatment. Most businesses are set up for profit, it is up to the employee to negotiate a fair wage that is inline with their experience and education. And if wage inequality is really true, all for profit businesses would only hire women because they can pay them less and in turn generate more profits for their share holders. And for the record, no one is asking you to shut up. You are entitled to an opinion like everyone else, and from the video, it is clear that it is not men who are crying.
Aisha
Also, its so cute how when women raise the issue of sexism, men make it all about themselves and how they 'have it so hard' and 'no one understands'.
You said feminists 'love playing victim' but you said 'If there is any inequality, it is against men, not women.'
So I guess you love playing the victim 🙂
B
Search 'Gender Wage Gap Myth' on Youtube
https://youtu.be/vyFjPHwF6To
B
Even male actors like Arjun Rampal, Sunny Deol, Ritesh Deshmukh are not paid the same as Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan. It has to do with TALENT. Not GENDER. If actresses are so talented, why are all newcomers dying to work with Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan. There are many actresses who have a name today courtesy of male actors, who got a role with the Khans when no one knew them, and now they are famous. Salman Khan alone introduced Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Zarine Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Asin, Sneha Ullal, Somy Ali, just to name a few. Rani Mukherjee and Anushka Sharma got fame after working with Aamir Khan. Deepika Padukone got a dream start with Shahrukh Khan. Of course, I am missing many actresses’ names who rose to stardom after a debut with the Khans.