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These Bollywood stars are standing up for women in their latest magazine shoots

These Bollywood stars are standing up for women in their latest magazine shoots

Indian fashion mags are taking a conscious stand to empower women through strong stars like Anushka and Sonam.
Updated 04 Mar, 2017

Bollywood actresses have had enough of sexist attitudes and are taking a stand for themselves and other women through these powerful magazine shoots.

With International Women’s Day, March 8, right around the corner, Indian fashion publications are making a conscious effort to feature strong, independent Bollywood actresses on the issue of their March covers' projecting powerful messages.

Vogue India featuring Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma on the cover of Vogue India, March 2017 edition.
Anushka Sharma on the cover of Vogue India, March 2017 edition.

Anushka Sharma is a vocal feminist. She has said it time and again in her interviews.

Featured on the cover of Vogue's March issue, the actress is seen wearing a Dior tee which reads: 'We should all be feminists.' Given her stand on feminism, the actress' pro-women asks people to exercise equality across the board..

"Feminists are people who are fighting for equal rights for women, because we are at a disadvantageous position. And in that sense, I identify with being a feminist, because I am a liberal and free-thinking person," she had told Hindustan Times earlier this year.

But that's not all, the shirt's been designed by Dior’s first ever female creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri who was inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book, We should all be feminists -- she's a feminist writer if you hadn't figure that out by now.

The shirt was also worn by Hollywood stars Rihanna and Natalie Portman in January this year, as well as Chiara Ferragni, an Italian businesswoman and fashion influencer, who was spotted wearing the same outfit as the Bollywood star.

Femina India featuring Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor graces the cover of Femina’s Women’s Day issue.
Sonam Kapoor graces the cover of Femina’s Women’s Day issue.

Another fierce, independent soul in Bollywood who isn't afraid to speak her mind, Sonam Kapoor embraces feminism wholeheartedly on the cover of Femina India.

Wearing a dress of varying lengths which reads, "Easy, item, bhenji" Sonam quickly opposes the biases with text that reads: The length of my skirt does not define me. It shows your mindset.

Her shoot for the mag calls out misogyny in light of the mass molestation that took place in Bangalore on New Year's eve after an Indian minister said "these kind of things do happen" due to young women "copying the Westerners, not only in their mindset, but even in their dressing."

"I'm a feminist and I'm not embarrassed to say it at all," the actress had said last year, throwing shade at Bollywood actresses who said they weren't feminists.

Elle India featuring Kangana Ranaut

Kangana Ranaut's first cover shoot for Elle India magazine.
Kangana Ranaut's first cover shoot for Elle India magazine.

She's bold, she's strong and she's a powerhouse to be reckoned with.

In Elle India's latest issue, Kangana Ranaut speaks of fighting her way to the top in an industry swarming with nepotism and film frats. The Bollywood actress struggled for years till she finally got her break and and after having made a name for herself she isn't intimidated by anyone - Koffee with Karan is proof.

Of late, Kangana has been embroiled in one controversy after another, but after holding her own post the ugly cold war with Hrithik Roshan, Kangana has proven that she will not be bogged down or slut shamed, regardless of what comes her way.

Elle India featuring Sonakshi Sinha

Sonakshi Sinha makes it all about women's empowerment through these tees.
Sonakshi Sinha makes it all about women's empowerment through these tees.

Sonakshi Sinha is fearless. From taking up sexist and body shaming Twitteratis to promoting a positive body image, this actress calls for #ShameTheShameless with a #SorryNotSorry attitude.

In fact, she recognises as a feminist and told Cosmopolitan India, "I'm all for equality. Women are doing great work in every field, and there's a dire need to fill the gender pay gap now. But I don't believe in male-bashing in the name of feminism, or even playing up the feminist card to one's convenience."

It's no wonder that she has been featured in this month's Elle mag. The project collaborated with veteran Indian designers Tarun Tahiliani, Abraham & Thakore, Namrata Joshipura, Gaurav Gupta and Arjun Saluja and asked them to come up with their versions of Dior's now-iconic slogan T-shirts from S/S '17.

Sonakshi is looking fierce in this design.
Sonakshi is looking fierce in this design.

"While Tahiliani batted for gender equality, Joshipura focused on body positivity. Khandwala and Abraham & Thakore used their slogan tees to celebrate the power of the female, while Arjun Saluja drove home a simple message — women's rights are human rights — with one impactful phrase."

Comments

AYZA Mar 04, 2017 11:45am
How bizarre that some of these actresses such as Anushka are posing as if they're in some racy men's website rather then promoting female equality! And yes ladies, what you wear and how you rock it does define YOU!
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Sameer Mar 04, 2017 12:04pm
Feminism is for those whose bellies are full...who have food and a roof to sleep under. It is useless stand which adulterates real issues like minimum wage, Opportunities, social security, child welfare, harassment etc. It destroys the very concept of gender equality. Me revealing my hairy thighs in a public place with a shirt that says "my clothes dont define me...your mindset is corrupt" is absurd as the very thought.
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Uzair Mar 04, 2017 12:08pm
Privileged women have become more obnoxious after contracting 'feminism'. Women who have risen from poverty must be the role models for the less privileged; not the ones who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
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tomUHTO TAWMAYTO Mar 04, 2017 12:34pm
Salute...
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BNJ Mar 04, 2017 12:40pm
Good goings brave girls of India!! There is a saying in sanskrit ''yatra naaryastu puujyante ramante tatra devataah'' ( The almighty is always happy when women are respected) ''yatraitaastu na puujyante sarvaastatraaphalaah kriyaah" ( And where they are not respected,all the Karma is fruitless)
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Ali Mar 04, 2017 01:33pm
Not a bad way to spend the day.
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Tamza Mar 04, 2017 01:36pm
Self promo - these slogans and stances are so 1970s!!
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Aisha Mar 04, 2017 03:20pm
Only if they walk on street without protocol and security. I don't think this will help women in any sense, educating men will work otherwise punishment system has been created for reason..
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kALY Mar 04, 2017 03:48pm
In the name of equality, they are going too far, not good.
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SATT Mar 04, 2017 05:03pm
Dramas of elites to engage,waste time of common people.
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Roman Mar 04, 2017 05:59pm
If conservative men do not like this, they should stop viewing these pictures. It is wrong to take a judgemental stand and pass abuses on women.
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HMA Mar 04, 2017 06:12pm
Be clear people this is not empowerment this objectification - slavery! These women are not our role models, my mother who brought me up, my doctor, my teacher, my maid, and many more are our role models because they didn't earn after objectifying themselves but worked hard with modesty, guarding their chastity, honor and dignity.
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Gurpreet singh Mar 04, 2017 08:22pm
@AYZA : You seem to have missed the point that Anushka is trying to make specifically for people with your mindset. She is wearing revealing clothes to make the point that women have a right to dress up the way they want to & need not be judged for. There's a lot of hypocrisy & double standards when it comes to dealing with females in South Asian countries.
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Sameer Mar 04, 2017 09:03pm
All for female rights, gender equality and equal opportunities. But 'feminism' is just confused liberalism.
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Sameer Mar 04, 2017 09:05pm
@Roman this is a public news station. If you cant stand the heat...get out of the kitchen.
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Farhan Mar 04, 2017 09:12pm
Ha! Mockery of womanhood on display. Flashing bare your chest or legs will neither earn you respect nor equality. For that you have to go the extra mile of working harder and being modest.
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AYZA Mar 04, 2017 09:32pm
@ GURPREET SINGH - I never commented on her "revealing" clothes - so you misinterpreted what I was alluding to. I was specifically commenting on her POSE which by any progressive American feminist standard is not acceptable and demeans the serious issue which these actresses are trying to promote! As a male, please don't lecture Pakistani females - a great many of whom are raised and educated in the West and are staunch believers in shattering the glass ceiling and standing up for our rights - whether in Pakistan or abroad! Yet unlike some bollywized Indians - as educated and progressive Pakistanis we're proud and honor our cultural traditions by refraining from mimicking "less is more" outfits - i.e. Priyanka Chopra did recently at the 2017 Oscars - which ironically many American actresses shunned and instead dressed decently and looked stunning!
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KP Mar 05, 2017 02:39am
@Sameer And how would u define male chauvinism?
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Soorma Bhopali Mar 05, 2017 11:21am
Super proud of Desi girls - disappointed to see some ppl missed the point completely
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Faizan Mar 06, 2017 01:16am
@Gurpreet singh Equality is all good until it comes around the point where women decide to wear less than necessary clothes, triggering male hormones. Yes mindset of all men around the globe is heavily messed up but we, males seem to have less control over ourselves when we are designed in such a way by our creator. Imagine the scene where all males start to roam on streets without any pants. Wouldn't then the males be again at fault? I am a liberal myself, who would love to see women do whatever they wish for, but when I think deeply about this problem I find myself sort of lost and never come out with a flawless solution other than that all males be removed from this planet. Would you please educate me with your thoughts and if you have any solution to this, keeping in mind that we don't want evil as a resulting by-product of empowering women?
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Ali Mar 07, 2017 09:06am
@AYZA rightly said
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