Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt recently discussed in an interview how she has occasionally encountered casual misogyny and has heard sexist remarks in Bollywood.
The Raazi star claimed that she did not recognise the sexism in such remarks early in her, however now such sexist remarks irritates her.
When asked if she had faced casual sexism in Bollywood like fellow women producers and actors, the Student Of The Year actor replied, “I think from time to time I have faced that– casual sexism. Many times I would not notice it. When I think back now because I am so much more aware of it, it just makes so much sense as ‘oh my god that was such a sexist comment, or that I was basically a subject of extreme misogyny in that moment. That’s why now I am so much more sensitive. Sometimes my friends go like ‘what’s wrong with you, why have you become so aggressive?’”
The actress said, ‘But it is not about her, people say don’t be so sensitive, you are being so sensitive, have you had periods.’ I say, ‘I am not getting sensitive and even if I am on my period, then what? You were also born because of this because women have periods.’
She added, “I get very angry when people say these random things. Things like ‘Your bra shouldn’t be on the bed, hide your bra. Hey, why hide it? It’s clothes, you’re shining your underwear, so I’m not saying anything. It’s not that all this happened to me but I understand how you as a woman should hide a lot of things.”
She further mentioned, “But it’s not about that, just random things like ‘don’t be so sensitive, you’re being so sensitive, are you PMSing. To hell with you, I am not being sensitive, and even if I am PMSing so the hell what? You were born because women were PMSing. It gets me so annoying when people say these random things. It’s just casual.”
Earlier this year Alia took to her Instagram stories to share a screenshot of a post by Pinkvilla that claimed the Gangubai Kathiawadi star would return to Mumbai, India in mid-July and that her husband Ranbir Kapoor would especially fly to the UK to bring his wife back home as she is pregnant and needs care.
The post also read that Bhatt will be taking a rest after she returns from her shoot, suggesting that the diva had planned her pregnancy in a way that doesn’t affect her shoot schedule. The post concluded that Bhatt would be wrapping up her films Heart of Stone and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani before the end of July.
Alia captioned her post while re-sharing that in some “peoples heads we still live in some patriarchal world” and confirmed that nothing has been delayed. “No one needs to PICK anyone up. I am a woman, not a parcel!!!! I do not need to REST at all but good to know you’ll have a doctor’s certification as well.”
She emphasized that this is 2022 and requested that people could get out of the “archaic” way of thinking. “Now if you would excuse me.. my shot is ready,” she concluded suggesting that she won’t be “resting” at home.
Multiple Pakistani actresses have extended their support to Bhatt with heartwarming posts.
Pakistani actors Zara Noor Abbas and Durefishan Saleem lent support to the Bollywood star and took to their Instagram stories to write that women don’t have to prove anything.
Zara wrote that she thought this happens only in Pakistan, recounting how brands wanted to drop her after finding out that she was expecting.
“Becoming pregnant and being an actress makes the society feel you are not good for work anymore. Well guess what, WOMEN are good enough for everything and anything and it’s time the dictators realise so. We don’t have to prove our motherhood and craft to any patriarchy,” penned the Zebaish star.
Kesi Teri Khudgarzi diva Dur-e-Fishan Saleem also shared Alia’s Instagram story to her own and wrote, “We can get married/make babies and still be kick a** fab. Marriage is a part of life not a [halt].” She also said people need to stop telling women that their career goals don’t align well with that.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia is all set for the release of her maiden production film, Darlings, which is scheduled to release on August 5, 2022, on Netflix.
