Actress Bhumi Pednekar spoke extensively about breaking stereotypes and society’s views towards a heroine in the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Goa.
Pednekar said that society still holds regressive views towards a heroine.
“Everywhere in the society, even my extended family, when they got to know that I am going to be an actor, they were very worried because there is a lot of negativity attached to my craft or being a heroine,” Bhumi told PTI.
“I feel in our culture, the girl, with any sort of power, is called difficult or various words that are demeaning just because she has a voice, has confidence and stands for her rights. It is sad, but it is the truth of our country. Our culture hasn’t evolved much and we need to do something about it,” the actress added.
Bollywood has always been criticised for the representation of women in films and presenting their roles mainly from the male’s perspective. Bhumi Pednekar also expressed her disappointment on the same saying, “In terms of the treatment of a female actor on-screen, we have gone backwards and how. We had actors like Devika Rani when cinema started in India and suddenly things became regressive. Women had nothing to do in films except praying for their husband’s well-being.”
She explained further saying, “I am not against traditions, but they are not meant to be regressive…It is heartbreaking to see the kind of atrocities women are suffering across the globe. As human beings, we need to evolve with time and if you fail to do that, your existence will suffer.”
The actress further added that she rejected around 23 film scripts as the female characters had nothing to do in the proposed projects, and now she is glad that by debuting with “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” she is not being stereotyped now.
Bhumi Pednekar also said that by doing non-mainstream roles she is “doing her bit of changing the patriarchal mindset.”
Bhumi Pednekar debuted with “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” opposite Ayushmann Khurrana, and is known for her different choice of her roles in the industry.
The audience will next see Bhumi Pednekar in the Abhishek Chaubey-directed “Chambal” in which she co-stars with Sushant Singh Rajput. Shooting will commence soon.
