Plucky & Sensitive, Would Gen Y Bolly Stars Make Better Leaders?

Today’s stars are not afraid to take a stand on issues and are leading by example.

Amitabh Bachchan recently found himself in the wrong kind of spotlight - this time for not taking a stand on the MNS ban on Pakistani artistes in India. Unlike Anurag Kashyap, Salman Khan or Priyanka Chopra, who risked the wrath of the MNS by speaking out against the ban, Bachchan opted to attend a friendly meeting with MNS leaders Chitrapat Sena and Ameya Khopkar.

Also read: No Stand on Pak Actors, But Bachchan Meets MNS Leader

But truth be told, it’s only one of the many important social or political issues that Bachchan has never taken a stand on (and no, movie-related talks/open letters don’t count). In fact interestingly, like Amitabh Bachchan, quite a few megastars of his generation - think Rajesh Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan - have participated actively in politics and have always chosen to toe the safe, institutional stand on controversial issues.

While celebs like Balraj Sahni, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, AK Hangal (who interestingly, was banned from working by the Shiv Sena after he attended a function organised by the Pakistan consulate in Mumbai in the ’90s) and others were vocal about their liberal and leftist views, they definitely did not command the popularity - and hence didn’t have the influence - of say a Bachchan or a Khanna.

The new breed of Bollywood superstars, on the other hand, seem refreshingly different.

Though still avoiding the issue of religion and Pakistan like the plague - remember the attack on Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan for speaking out against intolerance? And look at Karan Johar bearing the brunt for ADHM - these actors are not afraid to take a stand on important issues like depression, body image, unequal pay and paternity leave. In a country where Bollywood sells above all and yet bears the brunt of any political agenda, young celebs like Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut seem to be aware of their ability to influence the masses and help make a real change. And it makes us wonder - would they make better political leaders than their predecessors? 

Let’s take a look at how these stars are making a difference.

Depression

Deepika Padukone, in a very courageous move, set the ball rolling by talking about her own battle with depression at the peak of her career. In a couple of emotional interviews last year with Barkha Dutt, Deepika shared her experience of the illness in a bid to spread awareness and eventually founded the Live Love Laugh Foundation to help people suffering from depression.

I woke up like feeling directionless, I didn’t know where to go, I didn’t know what to do and I had these bouts of feeling so low that I would just start crying at the drop of the hat... You know, for everyone who is watching this interview and for people who have been through or are going through right now or for families whose somebody dear is going through it. I hope that they take it as an example and listen to what we are saying and hopefully help the people around them.

Deepika Padukone, Actress

Also read: I Would Keep Crying: Deepika, on her Battle With Depression

Following Deepika, director-producer Karan Johar and superstar Hrithik Roshan too opened up on their battle with the illness.

I have read people speaking openly about their depression. There was a phase in my life when I was really depressed. When I went through that phase, I thought I am getting a cardiac arrest... It was a very dark, deep and helpless time. 

Karan Johar, director-producer

I’ve been through my ups and downs. I have experienced depression. I have experienced confusion, as we all do... When we are suffering from a stomach or kidney problem, we are so cool and casual about it. Why then when we have a problem with brain, which is also an organ, we get scared and feel as if it is our fault and we need to hide it from people?

Hrithik Roshan, Actor

Also read: After Deepika & Karan Johar, Hrithik Speaks Out On Depression

Body Image

In an industry (and a country) obsessed with the perfect no-flab, no-dark-toned-skin look, actors like Vidya Balan, Arjun Kapoor and Tannishtha Chatterjee have been making quite a statement be sharing their experiences of battling their bodies and embracing it.

Thanks to peer pressure the focus point of my life was being a desirable shape... A fat girl always feels like a boy will not like her because of her weight. But I know that love is non-negotiable and at the end of the day, you have to come to terms with who you are.

Vidya Balan, Actor

Arjun Kapoor too, much like Parineeti Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha, battled obesity to become fit.

Being fat was part of my life. Actually, I never wanted to lose weight, content with what I was. But I knew I was lying to myself that I was happy being this way. In the last five years, I’ve learnt my lesson: Never Give Up! Patience is the key - live through each day, one day at a time. Fight the bad days just like you revel in the good ones. And never set any target date.

Arjun Kapoor, Actor

Recently, actor Tannishtha Chatterjee lashed out against the disparaging comments made by the host of a TV comedy show with references to her skin colour. Tannishtha walked out of the show, and what she says deeply reflects the prejudice a very large number in our country face everyday on account of their skin tone.

This is actually propagating a very very deeply problematic thought in our society, which is not only about skin tone. It is very deeply related to our caste system. You have to understand that, we never talk about it... I’ve never used ‘white’ make-up on my face ever in my life. I’m very comfortable with my skin tone. I am very happy that I am my skin tone. Why do I have to be apologetic about it in 2016?

Tannishtha Chatterjee, Actor

Also read: Neither Satire Nor Funny, ‘Comedy Nights’ Is A Bully: Tannishtha

Equal Pay

Equal pay across genders remains a distant dream all over the world, although debates and protests by women are slowly attempting to bridge the gap. And if you look at the showbiz, Bollywood fares way worse than Hollywood. According to the Forbes 2016 list, where top earner Salman Khan earned $28.5 million in 2015, Deepika Padukone earned only $10 million.

And now, celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Kalki Koechlin, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor are talking about the unfairness of it all and the need to bridge the gap.

The difference in male and female actors’ pay cheques is insane. 

Priyanka Chopra

There’s a difference of several zeroes in the pay cheque I get vis-a-vis the Khans. 

Kareena Kapoor

We don’t get paid even one-third of what male actors get, just because we are women! 

Kangana Ranaut

Also read: Gender Pay Gap: Why Deepika and Kangana are Due for an Increment

Stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan have also added their voice to the cause.

Pay-scale should not depend on a person’s sex. It should be equal. Patriarchal mindset should change.

Aamir Khan

Paternity Leave

Even though progressive countries all over the world are endorsing paternity leave, a couple of months earlier India’s Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, took the country by storm by saying that paternity leave would be wasted on men since it would only be a “holiday” for them.

Also read: Why We Need to Give Papa a Break: Debating Paternity Leave

But a clutch of Bollywood actors is setting an example in this very patriarchal society. Actors like Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Imran Khan and Vivek Oberoi are showing their sensitive and feminist side by opting for paternity leave.

This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity, maybe (laughs). I am taking a full-fledged paternity leave. I was almost 14 when my brother (Ishaan) was born. I was grown up enough to know what my mother went through during her pregnancy. So, I want to be around Mira.

Shahid Kapoor, Actor

Kudos to these Gen Y celebs - they are really leading by example.