📌 Key Points
- Sooraj Barjatya acknowledges the evolving portrayal of women in Hindi cinema.
- Barjatya’s films reflect a shift from homemakers to career-oriented women.
- He notes women’s growing influence in filmmaking, impacting aspects like costume and production design.
- Barjatya hopes for a future where women in cinema can exercise authority without maneuvering egos.
Sooraj Barjatya discusses the transformation of female characters in Bollywood, noting the shift from traditional homemakers to empowered, career-oriented women. He acknowledges the increasing influence of women in filmmaking and hopes for further progress in gender equality within the industry.
The Evolution of Female Characters in Bollywood
A lot has been said and written about the treatment of female characters in mainstream Hindi cinema. From being relegated to supporting roles to leading roles, female protagonists have been portrayed in diverse ways in Bollywood films. But with time, even in family-oriented films, the depiction has evolved. Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya says his own stories are a litmus test, where women have transitioned from being just homemakers in the 90s to being career-oriented working women now.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Barjatya’s most successful film, was released in 1994. It was India’s highest-grossing film for over a decade. The film, a story of a tightly-knit family, remains popular on TV and OTT three decades on.
Women’s Growing Influence in Filmmaking
He says that the presence and involvement of women in every aspect of filmmaking has brought about changes. “The energies are different. The way to look into a scene is different. We never used to pay so much attention to costumes, production design. The number of kitchen sets and temples I have put on screen, no one else has. That is where women come in with new ideas,” says the filmmaker.
However, Barjatya admits that women in positions of power in cinema still find it difficult to exercise that authority. “They say it is so difficult to give orders to men,” he laments, adding that the women tell him: ‘We have to manoeuvre by massaging their egos in order to get the work done.’ The filmmaker hopes that this, too, will see some transformation as time progresses.
Hopes for Gender Equality in the Industry
Sangamarmar, his new show, also stars Sourabh Raaj Jain. It is currently streaming on JioHotstar.
Barjatya’s reflections highlight the industry’s changing dynamics and the evolving roles of women. His hope for a more equitable future resonates with ongoing discussions about gender dynamics within Bollywood and beyond. His new show ‘Sangamarmar’ is streaming on JioHotstar.
