Dearth of women-oriented roles in Bollywood

Dearth of women-oriented roles in Bollywood
Monday, January 19, 2009 09:44 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
TV actress Nausheen Ali Sardar of "Kkusum" fame is set to make her big screen debut in a film called "42 kms". Choosy about her roles, the actress rues the dearth of women-oriented subjects in Bollywood and says except for Kajol, no other actress gets author-backed roles.

Nausheen says among the female stars Kajol is the only one who can match up to superstar Shah Rukh Khan's aura in tinsel town.

"I am waiting for the day when a female can get roles as good as Shah Rukh does. For now, I feel Kajol is the female Shah Rukh of Bollywood. She does few but good appearances in movies just like Shah Rukh and I am a huge fan of the actor, " Nausheen told over phone from Mumbai.

The actress, who will soon be seen in "42 kms", a film about marathon running, is not very happy with the roles women get in Bollywood.

"These days, roles are very male oriented in films. There was an era when roles were tailor-made for actors like Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. The focus is more on the men now, " she said.

Best remembered for playing the protagonist in Ekta Kapoor's popular daily show "Kkusum", Nausheen says she has waited long enough to get a break in Bollywood.

"I've been a star on television and people respect me, but I was quite new to Bollywood that time and didn't quite know the tricks of the trade well. Today I know it's safest to do a film with a producer who has the capacity to complete a film and release it. It's not an easy task that every producer can do. So that way, I have learnt through my past mistakes, " she said.

As of now, the actress has big plans.

"My film '42 kms' is about to release soon. I also have a big banner film in hand but I will announce the details later. All I can reveal is that I play a solo heroine in the film and there are two heroes with me, " she said.

Though actors Mandira Bedi, Bikram Saluja, Samir Dattani and Nausheen share the spotlight in "42 kms", the actress is not complaining.

"I didn't want to get into Bollywood by doing a C-grade film; and neither did I want to do a side role of a sister or friend of the lead actor. Most TV actors end up doing that. I am instead happy to do a film like '42 kms' that has three heroines and each one has an equal part to play.

"Of the 100 offers that came my way, I chose just five. It's that sort of ratio - so I am very particular about doing just A-class films, " Nausheen averred.

In "42 kms", directed and produced by Nisha Chainani and releasing Jan 23, Nausheen plays Bikram Saluja's ladylove and she will be seen in a different avatar from her traditional woman image as Kusum.

"I'm playing a doctor. It's quite a chirpy character. In most scenes, I will be seen wearing a doctor's white coat. Otherwise, I will be seen in knee-length skirts mostly, " she said.

During the time Nausheen was on a sabbatical from the arc lights, apart from doing a reality show last year, she was busy getting into shape for the big screen.

"I have been rejuvenating myself through exercising and yoga and now I am back with a bang. I have lost so much weight by kick-boxing, aerobics, swimming - all to get into shape because for TV shows, people usually take close ups or mid-shots, but in movies, we do have a lot of long shots and that really requires one to be fit, " she said.
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