In a recent round-table interview with actresses Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Richa Chadha, and Kalki Koechlin, prominent film critic Rajeev Masand brought up a question many keep asking: why do Bollywood's personalities hesitate when it comes to taking a stand on 'hot-button issues'?
The responses that came in were interesting and highlight the difficulties actors face when speak their minds, as was more than evident in the public outrage that followed recent statements made by Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Koechlin felt that there is too much pressure on actors to be "an activist on every topic" and said, "An actor has a responsibility to deliver in their job as an actor, just as a much as a banker in their job. The choice [to take a stand] is personal."
Also Read: Aamir Khan's Remarks On Leaving India Have Deeply Polarised The Nation
Padukone shed light on the catch-22 situation that actors have to deal with on such occasions, saying, "Where it gets tricky is when you take a stand, and you don't agree with everyone. If you do, then you're put on a pedestal. God forbid, if your opinion disagrees... the you know what happens. And if you don't take a stand then you're just branded as someone who never takes a stand... it's very difficult."
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan: There Is Growing Intolerance In The Country
Agreeing with the sentiment of choice, Chadha added that she felt that people should have better role models to look up to than actors. "Why can't we have, say, better leaders who people can look up to... people who are actually achieving something, like astronauts, or scientists or farmers or something?" she asked.
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The responses that came in were interesting and highlight the difficulties actors face when speak their minds, as was more than evident in the public outrage that followed recent statements made by Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Koechlin felt that there is too much pressure on actors to be "an activist on every topic" and said, "An actor has a responsibility to deliver in their job as an actor, just as a much as a banker in their job. The choice [to take a stand] is personal."
Also Read: Aamir Khan's Remarks On Leaving India Have Deeply Polarised The Nation
Padukone shed light on the catch-22 situation that actors have to deal with on such occasions, saying, "Where it gets tricky is when you take a stand, and you don't agree with everyone. If you do, then you're put on a pedestal. God forbid, if your opinion disagrees... the you know what happens. And if you don't take a stand then you're just branded as someone who never takes a stand... it's very difficult."
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan: There Is Growing Intolerance In The Country
Agreeing with the sentiment of choice, Chadha added that she felt that people should have better role models to look up to than actors. "Why can't we have, say, better leaders who people can look up to... people who are actually achieving something, like astronauts, or scientists or farmers or something?" she asked.
Watch the video above.
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