Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore launched DD National’s new television series on women empowerment. They told Iknoor Kaur that men should stand up and support their counterparts
When did you last see a Hindi film or television series where people celebrated the birth of a girlIJ It’s hard to place, isn’t itIJ But there will be so many serials and films to quote if you were asked the same question in terms of the birth of a boy. Consequently, it is said that if someone from another culture or country were to judge Indian women by watching our daily soaps, the only thing that they would gather is that Indian women stay at home, cook in the kitchen, gossip about the family and pamper their husbands. Only recently some shows have started portraying working women. However does it bother usIJ According to actress Sharmila Tagore, it doesn’t. “Women have held this secondary position for such a long time that they don’t mind being there a little longer. In any case if women were shown in a primary position on television, men would feel threatened and who would want to lose that additional male viewership for their show,” she said at the launch of DD National’s new series directed by Feroz Abbas Khan called Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon, which takes up the issue of women empowerment while covering aspects like child marriage, sex determination, domestic violence and gender inequality. Tagore feels that television content is stereotypical. “There are many women who manage hundred things at the same time but films and television rarely show that. Every show presents almost the same story. However, this show presents women of today as a role model. This is very important. We can’t just show issues and cry over them, we have to show people how to fight as well,” shared the actress who was accompanied by her daughter Soha Ali Khan for the launch. Soha associated with this show because she strongly believes in the issue at hand. “I’ve had an educational privilege where my family encouraged me to choose the field I wanted to. But not every woman is previliged. In an actor’s capacity, I can influence people. Thus, I’m supporting this serial to encourage people to do the right thing,” she added.
Soha feels that cinema and television play a big role in spreading such messages. “Rang De Basanti was one such film that managed to make a difference. Even in my first film Dil Maange More I played the role of a woman who leaves the boy to pursue her professional dream. There is a level of patriarchy in our houses. Men are always given preference. I think men should come forward and speak about women empowerment. It is them more than us who need to speak up and change the mindset,” she elaborated.
Tagore asserted that protests, rallies and seminars can help in creating awareness. “When people protested the rape law changed. I think when you protest, people take you seriously. So women should speak up. I don’t mean that you scream and shout, but you should stand up and say that ‘I will study’, ‘I won’t get married at the age of 18’, ‘I will work’,” she said.
The show will go on air on Women’s Day, March 8 at 7 pm and will air every Saturday and Sunday.