Key Points
- He highlighted need for awareness among both men and women
- Referred to his film Pad Man and its lasting importance
- Urged men and boys to understand women's experiences during menstruation
Mumbai, March 27. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar used the platform of the quiz reality show Wheel of Fortune to spread awareness about menstrual health and the importance of understanding and supporting women.
During the episode, responding to contestant talking about periods, Akshay Kumar agreed and emphasized on the importance of awareness among both men and women.
Referring to his film Pad Man, he said that while the film has already been released and achieved its purpose, the message remains extremely important.
He also urged everyone regardless of age to watch the film and understand the significance of menstrual hygiene.
Akshay Kumar Stresses Menstrual Awareness for All
He further added that it is especially important for men and young boys to understand what women go through during those 4 to 5 days.
“Yeh samajhna bahut zaroori hai ki ek mahila un dinon mein kya sehti hai. Ladkiyon se zyada, aadmiyon ko yeh samajhna chahiye ki unhe unka khayal kaise rakhna hai,” he shared.
(It is very important to understand what a woman goes through during those days. More than women, men should understand how to take care of them)
Why Pad Man's Message Remains Crucial Today
While care and respect should always be present, he highlights that those few days are particularly important and require extra sensitivity and support.
The conversation kickstarted when contestant Surbhi opened up about the stigma surrounding menstruation in society.
She shared, “Sir, yeh aasaan nahi tha, kyunki hamare samaj mein isko lekar bahut sharam hoti hai. Aapne jab Pad Man kiya, tab bahut sharam kam hui, kyunki India ka sabse bada superstar aisi baatein openly kar raha hai. Is par film bani, jo gaon-gaon tak pahunchegi, toh yeh sharam bilkul khatam ho jaati hai. Aur hum chahte hain ki purush, mahilaon se zyada, is baat ko samjhein.”
(Sir, this wasn’t easy because there is a lot of shame around this in our society. When you did Pad Man, that shame reduced because India’s biggest superstar spoke about it openly. A film was made on it that reached villages, which helps remove the stigma. We want men, even more than women, to understand this.)
Talking about the movie Pad Man, Akshay Kumar essayed the role of a villager who is extremely progressive with his mindset, and very caring for the women in his family.
Seeing the poor hygiene conditions faced by the women in his household during menstruation, especially his wife, his character takes it upon himself to create affordable sanitary pads.
The movie starred Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor along with the superstar.
–IANS
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Looking ahead: This bold stance may inspire more Bollywood celebrities to openly discuss menstrual health and break taboos in mainstream media.
