In this week’s episode of the Reel Deal podcast, we talk to Gauahar Khan, who is all set to star in her first digital series, the Indian version of the acclaimed British comedy show, The Office, which premieres on Hotstar today.
Gauahar Khan plays a super boss in the show, but the actor is quite the boss in her real life too. Apart from being an actor and fashion entrepreneur, Gauahar is also known for being vocal about her political and social views on social media. We talk to the actor about being a powerful woman, the power of social media and playing the boss in reel and real life.
Tune in to the podcast here.
Here are the excerpts.
Q: Why do you feel it is important for you to put out your political opinions on social media.
Gauahar Khan: I don’t think its is important for anyone put things out on social media. In the current scenario is good to have a view and an opinion. Its not a blind view or opinion... it is for the benefit of humankind, races, culture, of the constitution. If you are of a positive mindset then why not bring about, at least a little bit of awareness is required today. And if it influences a few minds out there, I just hope for a better world and a better place to live in.
Q: You recently tweeted about the mob lynching in Jharkhand. I have seen you being vocal about these issues earlier too. How do you view yourself in this current scenario.
Gauahar: I am a basic human being, citizen of this country. I have responsibilities towards another just like any other human being should. If I find something disturbing or if I find something that needs to be appreciated or if I find something that needs to be out there for people to know that this is the good, bad and the ugly. What’s happening around then I will speak that. And I do it with utmost respect. First, figure out what things are though. Don’t go around writing nonsense because Twitter is become like Whats App now. Jo mila chaap do. Not like pehle dekh lo verify karlo... nahin.
You do influence a lot of people when you talk about these issues on social media, and you get some positive response, but there is also a lot of toxicity too. How do you handle that?
Gauahar: I don’t pay attention to that. I just ignore it because it doesn’t serve the purpose of what my life is. My life is about love and peace and happiness and that’s what I want to bring about. What I put out there is not for people to react on. Because if you react on it I won’t pay attention. I am just putting my view out there so that somewhere people can take the good from it.
I have seen you and many others getting trolled for being Muslim. How do you react to stuff like that?
I don’t pay attention to that. I didn’t think that being Muslim is something to be trolled about. I don’t read such stuff. I don’t see it like that.
When the trailer of The Office came out there were mixed reactions.
When it comes to any cult show... its like Friends ka remake or adaptation ho people will say what’s the need. The reactions were based on that like ‘oh no... how could you attempt that... how can there be an Indian adaptation...’ People don’t have trust in their own country’s capabilities when it comes to comic genre or the actors or the script writing. But I am sure that they will be pleasantly surprised by what we have finally produced. So I would actually wait for people to watch the show and not go by the trailers.
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