Vikramaditya Motwane advocates for gender equality in Bollywood: "Why can't Deepika lead Pathaan"

Acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane is known for his penchant for experimenting with diverse subjects and narratives. In addition to his artistic pursuits, he has emerged as a vocal advocate for addressing the issues of gender inequality within the Indian film industry. Recently, he engaged in a meaningful discussion with other prominent figures in Bollywood, including Kriti Sanon, Zoya Akhtar, and Hansal Mehta, as part of the O Womaniya initiative.

During this candid conversation, Vikramaditya Motwane emphasized the need for gender equality and questioned why a leading actress like Deepika Padukone couldn't spearhead a project on the scale of 'Pathaan.' The filmmaker posed the question, "Why can't Deepika be the lead in 'Pathaan'? Why? Why not? Why can't there be a film centered around a woman? Why not? And I think, studios and producers especially need to start pushing for this."

He pointed out that while Hollywood has made strides in producing women-led films, Bollywood has yet to fully embrace this trend. He cited the example of Hollywood's 'Barbie' movie, noting that it has been made possible due to a longstanding tradition of championing women in lead roles. According to Motwane, the Indian film industry should follow suit and actively support and promote female-centric narratives.

The director previously expressed his regrets about not making his 2018 superhero film, 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero,' with a female lead. He believes that the film would have benefited significantly from such a casting choice.

On the professional front, Vikramaditya Motwane has been keeping busy. He recently directed the well-received period drama web series, 'Jubilee.' Additionally, he has announced the world premiere of his documentary series, 'Indi(r)a’s Emergency,' which will be showcased at the Jio MAMI Film Festival. He is also working on an upcoming film with the talented Ananya Panday titled 'Control.'