Every time we talk about Indian cinema, most of the time, we leave the actresses out of the equation. Their existence is like a modified wallflower. This industry runs on the choice of the audience too, indeed. And the audience is a diverse lot of humans. When Gangubai Kathiawadi was released, many questioned its aggravating impact on the morals of our society. Even though that movie was based on a true story. Sexism is deep-rooted in our society. It is definitely changing with time but it also affects the lives of many as it continues to breathe. First and foremost, females are only associated with dance, objectification, and supporting roles in this industry. This subject has its own set of contradictory elements.
Women in cinema face a number of problems. Lately, they have been coming upfront with some of the issues.
● Gender pay gap:
“ I don’t really understand why we are paid less than the male actors because we put equal efforts .”
– Aditi Rao Hydari, interview with PTI
The gender pay gap is a global problem. And not only in a specific field, instead, but it also exists everywhere. The gender pay gap is a sexist differentiation that is omnipresent. Especially where the public has a bigger and more important role, gender pay will always remain a stagnant practice. India being a developing country is yet to establish an equal platform for every gender, not only binary. Though even developed countries have addressed the issue of the gender pay gap and it lives prominently in the entertainment industry. There have been enough statements to support the fact that female superstars are paid less than the other gender. There are two aspects that affect this issue intensely.
- The Prejudiced Audience:
This is a patriarchal world. We live in a developing country and we are yet to erase the gender stereotypes in every field. Also, the rise of other genders than the binary ones has come into play. The audience that we form is the main reason why films would work. The movies that do well at the box office have big names starring in them. These celebrities have a specific stagnant audience that will not decrease whatsoever. They like their favorite actor and there is no space for any improvement. There is no room for improvement because a lot of people are the mass audience. They solely come to watch their favorite stars
The other half of the audience that watches a movie comes for entertainment and art. That other half has an unbiased perspective but we do not know their mindset. If their acceptability of female-centric films exists. The audience is not used to such films which is why the filmmakers won’t give their time to do so. The basic audience is a victim of a prejudiced mindset.
- Male-centric Movies:
If you search for synonyms of the word ‘manly’, you are most likely to find the words like courageous, brave, fearless, bold, etc. while, the word ‘womanly’ will have feminine, ladylike, and female as its synonyms. Cut to the movies we watch, filmmakers produce male-centric movies with those adjectives kept in the back of the mind. They help in boosting up the experience of a viewer. Whereas, female-centric movies when made are just feminine in the eyes of the spectators. The movies mostly target an issue faced by women. Which is the only way for making the film relatable and successful. Apparently, it is also the only way by which the actresses will earn the respect, capital, and position that they deserve. The audience is used to this pattern and it will take not a few, but many female-centric females for people to approach it as a movie and not an issue.
When we talk about artistic professions, the person carrying the art through a medium to the audience is put through the critics. There are critically acclaimed actors as well as actresses. Actresses give equal efforts, and equal time and still are not able to find the monetary gains that they deserve. The gravity of the situation doesn’t hit until one doesn’t speak for themselves.
When director Sanjay Leela Bhansali paid his movie’s lead female Deepika Padukone more fees than the lead male actors, Bollywood was stunned. Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Kangana Ranaut, and a few others have made their way to get paid more than the male actors. Though, the scenario goes back to being stereotypical as soon as the biggies of Bollywood come are a part of the film.
When we talk about other film Industries, we cannot miss the rumors about Samantha Ruth Prabhu charging Rs.5 crores for an item song in 2021’s blockbuster ‘Pushpa’. That is more than or equal to what she charges for a role in a film itself. Film-makers are ready to pay more money for item songs than the roles in a movie. Well, that quite clarifies the expectations from a movie and an actress. For the lead roles or female-centric movies in every film industry, gender pay disparity stands abiding.
- So-Called Catfights:
Something that really disrupts the change in the stereotypically driven industry is absurd and made-up clashes between two female actors. Any statement regardless of the intention behind it is painted in a form of entertainment for the onlookers. That is what creates a comparative atmosphere. It does not only exist among the female celebrities of a specific regional industry but also extends to inter-regional film industries as well. We saw Alia Bhatt and Samantha Ruth Prabhu being compared for being people’s favorite actresses, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra being compared for representing India internationally, etc. For the purpose of entertainment, such acts of differentiation lower the healthy competition culture and spread hatred.
- The Hero Fever:
Someone in the 1900s said, “Behind every successful man is a woman.” People have been inspired by the quote ever since and have permeated it in their lives thoroughly. Females are actually kept behind in various aspects including movies. A film is made and we need a hero in it. A mishap takes place and we need a hero in it. ‘Hero’, is a term that is overused. A term that has now become related to a man’s bravery only. This influences the audience of a movie. They expect to see a hero. Not an actor, but a man. This ultimately lowers the demand for an actress. Female stars, even after a few fantastic movies, even their career best, have not touched the standing of male actors.
On the brighter side, there are a couple of reasons that are enough for the filmmakers to come up with up-to-par and fine movies with female leads as well as for the audience to receive those movies in a praiseworthy manner.
- Female-centric Movies:
Did you watch Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish? The role of Sridevi resembles the role of women in the industry. The role of a supporting character is needed but not noticed. English Vinglish was one of the movies that were able to connect with the females of the country. The
2013 comedy drama movie by Vikas Bahl, Queen was another movie that left the whole Bollywood amazed. The main character being a young female, changed the perception of the viewers in many ways. Like the movies that are fun to watch do not need action and enchanting entries of male actors. The film was made with a budget of Rs.12 crores and earned an amount of Rs. 97.5 crores at the box office. A female protagonist film that became commercially successful and won several awards including the best film, best actress, and best director. Kangana Ranaut’s career took a leap after that movie. Other women-centric films like Piku, Highway, Kahaani, NH10, Mardaani and Neel Batte Sannata focused on feminine issues of all classes.
Parvathy Thiruvothu’s ‘ Take Off ’ was a 2014 film inspired by certain events in Iraq and it earned Rs. 25 crores worldwide. ‘ Uyare ’, the Malayalam-language film of 2019 earned Rs. 9.4 crores worldwide. Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s ‘U-Turn’, a Telugu movie, also stole people’s attention.
There exist many such movies worth watching.
● Global representation:
Indian cinema is undoubtedly known for its male-centric and masochistic films that are amazing. Indian cinema is known for the male superstars that earn big amounts. Indian cinema is known for its music, storyline and so much more. But Indian cinema is also known for the phenomenal female superstars that have represented the nation globally.
Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza, Aishwariya Rai Bachan, Priyanka Chopra, and the list wouldn’t end with the actresses that also represented India in beauty pageants and won. Srinidhi Ramesh Shetty, the lead actress starring in K.G.F is the winner of the Miss Supranational 2016 Pageant where 71 countries competed.
Let us talk about Aishwariya Rai Bachan, the first Indian female to be on the Oprah Winfrey show in the United States. When we talk about international representation, I think our females have surpassed the level of excellence. Bollywood’s ‘Desi girl’ and now Baywatch and Quantico star, Priyanka Chopra in an interview said,
“ I used to get upset with the word Bollywood, what it means in the West. The stereotype of us being dancing, singing, puppet showgirls. Indians are nearly one fifth of the world’s population; we have one of the most prolific film industries in the world. When people used to ask me about it, or replicate what they think is Bollywood dancing, thinking that they are being funny, I used to get offended. But now I show them the stuff we do .”
Deepika Padukone was one of the nine-person jury at Cannes Film Festival this year.
Nevertheless, actresses in our cinema are much more capable than what we can see, only if we try to see them.
“ Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves .”
-Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Adding to it, the Indian film industry is also a field where gender bias exists and is changing with time. What we see, we implicate. With giving breaks to many women-centric movies, a lot of actresses have achieved the title of superstar. There is a significant shift in the industry with good movies. And there are talents yet to flourish. Women in cinema put in equal work and time. They deserve to be noticed and gratified for the entertainment they provide. Females in every profession, especially in the film industry, represent an entire gender. They represent the women of our country. The aim is to perceive them as artists of our country and not just supporting characters.