Women are taking on different roles every day: Madhuri Dixit and Neena Gupta on women in the industry

Recently, around 40 prolific women professionals in entertainment got together to celebrate our representation in India. Talking about the evolution of women in one of the conversations, veteran actor Neena Gupta remarked, 

“The entertainment space has evolved, alongside our evolution as a society. As women became breadwinners, led businesses & teams, and became a central figure in every aspect of life, the roles that were offered to me became central to the story. In today’s scripts, roles for women are not dependent on a man, rather stand on their own.”

We see determined, driven characters like Kasturi Dogra in Aranyak. The Fame Game showed us the story of a superstar and a mother who fought all odds to do what was best for her family. Purva from Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein showed us darkness and desire like never before. Bharti in Geeli Pucchi defied years of conditioning by standing up for herself. The Bombay Begums and Bulbbuls of the world gave us the strength to stand up in the face of adversity. Every single story has been real, relatable, and rousing.

When asked about the change in the industry, here’s what Madhuri Dixit had to say, 

“There has been an evolution, and the evolution has been tremendous. Women are no longer just pretty faces or avenging angels. Today women are viewed as whole people, playing different characters from different professions - whether it’s a mathematician or a sportswoman or a housewife with unfulfilled aspirations, women are taking on different roles every day and it’s fascinating to see this change in the industry.”

More women writers, directors, producers have also acted as a powerful driving force behind this change. Behind the screen, inclusivity is critical not only in amplifying voices that are not always heard, but also because it creates opportunities.