82 per cent of women in India cannot afford sanitary pads during that time of the month which is very shameful to share, says actor Akshay Kumar. By Upasana Singh
Actor Akshay Kumar started his life not from ground zero but from Chandni Chowk. So he knows the practicality of a tough climb, one he has negotiated with mindfulness and realism. Which is why he is a confident and charismatic actor, who never shies away from choosing films that aim at breaking prevalent social myths. landing straight from the success ofToilet Ek Prem Katha, which talks about improving sanitation conditions for rural women, to Padman, which is based on the menstrual hygiene of women, the actor has been consistent in selecting socially responsible stories. “I never wanted to follow a single track or confine myself to one genre of acting. There was a moment in time when I was questioned about doing action-oriented roles only. It is then that I decided to change the genre and I began to essay romantic, villainous and comedian characters. Today, I do four films each year and have turned producer too. I believe change is the most important aspect in anybody’s life. It keeps us going forward”, said Kumar whose success has transcended beyond boundaries. He was sharing his life lessons with students of IIT Delhi as part of a promotional strategy for Padman.
The film is based on a book written by wife Twinkle about Tamil social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who invented sanitary napkin-producing machines to increase the use and affordability of pads among rural women. “I have no idea whether my film will do well or not. But watching men discussing pads and periods in public is something that is huge. And I consider that a bigger achievement,” Akshay told with all humility.
Amid the efforts put together to eradicate the stereotypes associated with menstruation, Kumar recalled an incident from the set that made him realise the depths of misconceptions in our society. “It was shameful to see local actors cringe and escape from the set when they were asked to hold a sanitary pad in their hands for a particular shot calling it a sin.” Thoroughly miffed, the actor audaciously took out a sanitary pad from his pockets and held it up for everyone to see. He further added, “It is sad to comprehend the pain and humiliation a woman faces in terms of restrictions. She is not allowed to enter the kitchen or temples during menstruation, a natural and healthy bio rhythm. It is high time to change the perspectives of men and women alike towards this taboo.”
Not only in rural areas, Akshay’s avid espousal of menstrual hygiene has also had an impact in urban centres. “One of my friends called up to inform that he was so inspired by the Padman’s trailer that he discussed about menstruation with his 10-year-old daughter to make her aware of physical changes. This is absolutely exemplary,” he gushed.
He is the first actor to not just raise social awareness through a film but commit himself to an allied mission of providing free sanitary napkins in rural Maharashtra. “I am working on my new project titled Daughters of Maharashtra Pad bank, which is an initiative aimed at supporting rural women, especially those in remote areas. Maharashtra is going to be the first state to initiate a project like this and I wish every daughter in India gets a sanitary pad.”
Growing up in a middle-class family, Kumar always wished to be an actor and he is living that dream today. The actor acknowledged his parents for whatever he has achieved in his life so far. “My success owes a lot to my parents. I have been saved by their support. A positivity around you can only be created by your family and no one else”, said he. Akshay encouraged small entrepreneurs to acknowledge their family’s suggestions as he believed that no one could be a better guide than parents.”
Being his first release in 2018, Padman was initially expected to release on January 25 but due to the clash with Padmaavat, it has been shifted to February 9. However, the film has already garnered a lot of attention and the husband-wife duo has left no stone unturned to promote it worldwide. While Twinkle Khanna promoted the film at the Oxford University via a motivational speech, Kumar is busy spreading awareness in colleges. At Delhi University, he even flagged off a women’s only marathon for tax-free sanitary pads. “I don’t want pads to be tax-free but want it to be completely free. It is odd that pads are taxed at 12 per cent in India but brooms are tax-free,” he said to roaring applause.It’s not just the lead Akshay who is busy promoting the film. The actresses Radhika Apte, Sonam Kapoor and director R Balki has no less visited a school to interact with children and distribute sanitary pads to girls while also spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene.