Curated by journalist Barkha Dutt, We The Women, a women’s summit, kicked off at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai on Saturday, 9 December. The event aims to give women space for “unfettered expression, great conversation, mentoring, networking and a sense of community.”
At this two-day-participatory forum, an array of influential and articulate personalities like Smriti Irani, Ekta Kapoor, Faye D’Souza, Sakshi Malik, Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt, among others, will grapple with issues like sexism, equality and sexual harassment with intense discussions.
At one of the panel discussions called ‘Kyunki This Is What Success Looks Like’, Smriti Irani and Ekta Kapoor spoke to Karan Johar. The exchange comprised a lot of playful banter, where the co-joined topic of entertainment and politics naturally took centre-stage.
Ekta Kapoor and Smriti Irani opened up about the evolution of the character Tulsi from the series, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and the travails of being high-achieving women.
“Stop Treating Women as a Dress Code,” says Smriti Irani
Speaking about her journey from actor to writer to producer to politician, Irani said that what kept her through it was her drive to give a voice to those who don’t have an opportunity share their stories in front of a camera.
She added that contrary to popular belief, her experience as an actor and connections with both the television and film industry have not lead to a ‘conflict of interest’ in terms of her position as the I&B Minister. Instead, she stated, it has made her all the better for it.
The onslaught of social media trolling directed her way began when she was Tulsi on Kyuki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, she says. In the popular TV soap, Irani says, her character was type-casted and termed ‘regressive’ for things such as the way she dressed.
Just because you wear a sari, it’s not a sign of regression. Clothes do not define your personality as a human being. It’s time to stop treating women as a dress code.Smriti Irani, I&B Minister
Irani’s Mantra for Success
She spoke about the need for women, working women especially, to adopt a steel-frame around themselves and not pay heed to the trolls that come their way. “You have to understand that people are trying to rile you, only because they want to rile you. Don’t give in to it,” says the actor-turned-Minister.
But as a politician, Irani said, it is important to objectively listen to every opinion, because, in a democracy, some of it may contain constructive criticism.
To be a pragmatic politician, you have to listen to every voice. That’s the beauty of a democracy, every voice counts.Smriti Irani, I&B Minister
The secret to success for women, is universal, she says — “It happens in the pursuit of excellence.” Speaking from her own experience, she said she started out sweeping floors at the Bandra McDonald's in 1980, and now she is the I&B Minister. So just follow through.
There is no Nepotism in the Indian Film Industry: Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor, admittedly, was wary of saying anything ‘political’ at the event. However, towards the end, she announced that she would like to say something politically incorrect. In at that moment she chose to address nepotism, much to the delight of Karan Johar.
Nepotism does not exist in the Indian film industry. People buy what they want to buy. It is a consumer led industry.Ekta Kapoor, TV and film producer
While denying the existence of nepotism in the film industry, Kapoor pointed at nepotism in Indian politics.
Ekta also defended her flagship soap opera, Kyunki..., when she was questioned about the criticism that surrounded it for being ‘regressive’. She said that there was evidence that women started participating more in family decisions, egged on by Tulsi — the lead character.
Kapoor went on to say that the TRPs of the show rose whenever they depicted a supportive relationship between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-laws. She said that one cannot deny the ‘Saas-Bahu’ issue and termed is as a societal malfunction.
I have never shown my character (a wife) touching her husband’s feet or calling him ‘Pati Parmeshwar’. Whenever she has attempted to do that, her husband has stopped her.Ekta Kapoor
Watch the video of the entire discussion here.
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