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Married female actors in India are less appealing because they're "taken", says Kajol

Married female actors in India are less appealing because they're "taken", says Kajol

In an interview, the actor shares her observations about her life as a mature, married actor in Bollywood
31 Jul, 2017

Kajol has a new film coming out and she's getting tired of the word ' comeback'.

"Wasn't Dilwale (2015) my comeback film? No, wait, maybe Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) was. I have made 25 comebacks. I am losing track of the number," she says to mid-day.

In the interview, the actor shares her observations about her life as a mature, married actor in Bollywood (like her career gaps and comebacks conundrum, above) — and she really says it as it is.

When asked if she feels marriage cuts short a female actor's 'shelf life', she begins by saying, "Women, female actors more so, need to be comfortable about the lives they choose. I wouldn't want to be 16 ever again. I am prettier, smarter and better at my skill." (Preach, sister!)

She goes on to touch on how women's lives tend to change after marriage in desi communities: "Yes, there is no denying that longevity of female actor is a lot [less] than their male counterparts. After marriage, priorities change. Socially and personally, I am entrusted with more responsibilities, so is my partner. [...] I accepted it and went ahead with everything just the way I should have."

But about on marriage's impact on a female actor's career, she offered this little nugget: "In India, with female actors, what changes is how people look at them. After marriage, she is less appealing because she is 'taken'."

The view that married women are their husbands' property and thus off-limits for other men is nothing new. And Bollywood, like other film industries, is guilty of objectifying its female stars. Kajol's statement seems to suggest that most female roles are written to feed into the male audience's fantasties. So while Kajol is discussing the dearth of opportunities for married actors, her statement also begs the question: just what is the status of any female star in Bollywood?

Comments

Shaheen A. Jul 31, 2017 05:03pm
She should be thankful that she got a break in bollywood despite average acting skills and below average looks.
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SATT Jul 31, 2017 06:05pm
@Shaheen A. You need Indian eyes to see her beauty.
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M. Emad Jul 31, 2017 07:59pm
@Shaheen A. --- Bollywood actress Kajol has above average (Indian) looks.
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Rehna Jul 31, 2017 08:17pm
I always liked her.
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Kalim mirza ki biwi Jul 31, 2017 08:26pm
Sonia Kareenaa and asiwaryA rai
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Tariq, Lahore Jul 31, 2017 11:43pm
@Shaheen A. Indeed, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
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Mohit Aug 01, 2017 05:23am
I think she is extremely beautiful and talented. Wish her well for her film and everything else she does with her life.
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Nitin Aug 01, 2017 09:48am
@Shaheen A. She is good actress and every director want her in their movie
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PraMod Aug 01, 2017 09:56am
@Shaheen A. She is an extremely beautiful women and was and still is an excellent actor. She left her career at its peak for family.
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Shaheen A. Aug 01, 2017 11:27am
@Nitin "She is good actress and every director want her in their movie" @PraMod "She left her career at its peak for family." 1. If she is so much in demand, why is she whining and pouting ? 2. Average actors from bollywood family tree have been consistently fooling the Indian (and Pakistani) public for decades into believing they are extremely talented, good looking and stars. Time to benchmark them against global standards. 3. Sorry to hear that such a presumably beautiful actress had to undergo skin melamine surgery to get a lighter tone, and become saleable again. 4. There are millions of women in India, and worldwide, who put family before career. They do not get coverage. Nor can they complain that the job market doesn't absorb them again. What is different about her? 5.People assume that I am a Pakistani, which i am not. I am critical of bollywood stars who are a product of a full fledged PR mechanism. At the moment she is doing nothing great that deserves coverage. Period.
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javed Aug 01, 2017 11:33am
Its more ageism, more and more 20 year old actresses are coming up, and barring the Khans, not many male 40+ superstars remained there as well.
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ajay Aug 01, 2017 11:50am
Or may be age just catching up with her. Kajol had had her days. She still is one of my favorites. But time and glory do not stop for anyone. The ones who once rode the success wave start thinking that they own the wave.
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Aamer Aug 01, 2017 12:20pm
Kajol is a good actress . She was hot in the 90's when she, Maduri, Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tondon, Juhi Chawla and Urmila were at the top. Now when you have young actesses like Kangna, Depika, Katrina, Sharda Kapoor and Anushka Sharma old actresses get less appealing not because they get married.
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Babu Aug 01, 2017 05:04pm
But this is not true for you, as you are getting more and more beautiful with age , film directors are after you. It is only you who regretted due family priority. Cinema audiences still love you.
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WASEEM Aug 01, 2017 05:28pm
Nice analysis Shaheen.
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Sam Aug 02, 2017 07:01pm
More whining than any quality. The only reason you got roles initially was because of mother Tanuja. What's wrong in doing a mother's role ? Do that and you'll do good in bollywood or any other wood. Main-stream actress - nah, not for you anymore.
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aRUN bAINDUR Aug 03, 2017 01:11pm
@Shaheen A. As a person, she is extremely acerbic, unplesant and foists her opinion on anyone who listens. She's just one of those many so called "stars" who want their six seconds of press every once in a while. She had her day in the sun.
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riz Aug 03, 2017 09:49pm
@Shaheen A. she is neither an average in looks nor in acting capabilities. she is fabulous
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SOHAIL Aug 04, 2017 03:22pm
Good Critical comments
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