BEAUTY & ENT.
RANI MUKERJI:
Films portray women the way society sees them S
tories of good Samaritans have emerged as rays of hope and positivity in these grim times. Spotlighting a number of these real-life superheroes through his narration is Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, who has recited a moving Hindi poem written by lyricist Swanand Kirkire as part of an eight-episode Spotify series. She made her acting debut with the Bengali film ‘Biyer Phool’ in 1996 and entered Bollywood the same year with ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’. Rani Mukerji, who has been in the industry for over 25 years, has talked about how in Bollywood the definition of a “heroine” has changed over the years. Rani, who has always wooed the audiences with her power-packed performances, says actresses have
74
APR / MAY 2022 News With A Desi View
always been showcased in a “dynamic” way and that films “portray women in the way the society sees them”. Rani, who has impressed the audience and critics alike with her impactful skills in movies such as ‘Hey Ram’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Black’, ‘Mardaani’ and ‘Hichki’ among many others, said: “For me, a heroine has always been a quintessential Hindi film heroine. I don’t think anything has changed.” “If you see the graph of film actresses from the ‘40s or from ‘50s, you will see that Indian women were always portrayed in a very dynamic way...barring a few because every time your film has to reflect society as such. So, if you seen the growth in India...you have seen the growth in the films as well in all characters and stories.” www.desitoday.ca
