Rani Mukerji dares women to adopt a fearless mind. She says India’s image has taken a beating due to increasing reports of women trafficking
When Rani Mukerji appeared in an elegant south cotton saree handwoven by Bengal’s craftsmen, she didn’t exude an inch of ‘mardaani’. She was calm, composed and poised, something very different from the aggressive, adamant and fearless cop that she played in her last acclaimed movie Mardaani. But her words of caution came as an alarming bell that she had already rung in her film. The actor was in the city to attend the National Convention for Prevention of Trafficking organised by Institute for Gender Justice.
“The dirty crime of trafficking is plaguing the world but the figures here are astonishing. I think it’s high time we raise our voice. It is important to start being responsible on your own, people should decide for themselves that they will not tolerate violence. We should cultivate mardaani spirit at home,” said Mukherji.
Her film, she pointed out, was an attempt to familiarise the audience with the operations of trafficking. According to the actor, it is necessary to be aware of how, when and where the crime generates and the horrible activities that happen after that. She explained, “Often children in rural areas are misled or are lured to the city with promises of jobs, marriage or a better future. One should be very aware of these kinds of offers and not give in.”
For a commercial actress like her, it was difficult to play a character as strong and courageous as Shivani Shivaji Roy but she credited her husband Aditya Chopra for making this film with conviction. “When we make a film, we expect that it would reach out to masses. It can only happen if it is backed by a well-networked producer. For Mardaani, I would give credit to my husband Aditya Chopra because it is very difficult to present such a strong story in a mainstream format with ‘commercial’ actors. People want entertainment when they go to watch a film. They want to see regular song and dances based on a romantic story. All they want is an easy escape from life. They want to see all good and happy stuff. It is very rare that movies are made on such real subjects because the box office returns are doubtful. Makers are always conscious whether such movies will generate money. But when they made Mardaani they did not think about the money, their priority was to tell a story and make it available to the mass audience,” she said.
“What we do on screen is inspired by real life. Mardaani was inspired from all the good work that the Indian Army has done. I’m elated that people are still talking about the film,” she said. She shared that people in European countries do not allow their girls to travel to India because of safety reasons. They believe that India has failed to protect its women. “I have never come across stories or news of trafficking and forced prostitution when I was growing up but with time, these crimes are rising in India,” said the actor.
She also appreciated and lauded the activities and rescue operations carried out by the Border Security Force and the National Disaster Relief Force. “Most of the trafficked people are rescued at the borders and the men in uniform leave no stone unturned to get them back home. They are the protector of the civilians. I want to thank all of them for the work that they are doing,” she concluded.