Bollywood may look like a land of make-believe and stars living a glorious life full of fame and money, but there is a stark reality about their lives that only they know.?
We have often seen celebrities share their struggle stories and how they overcame the challenges, but they end up reeking of self-promotion and fuff, and of course, very hard to believe.
Instagram/Tabu
Like, remember how Ananya Panday spoke about her 'struggle' and appearing on Koffee With Karan that backfired for her??
But history is a testament that women have been more honest, and sadly so because the challenges they have faced were bigger and tougher.?
BCCL
However, thanks to the OG actresses, the women who have always been fierce, brave, and raw in sharing their beliefs, journeys, and how they fought the male-dominated industry with every shred of courage they had.?
smita patil
Here are times when actresses didn't mind naturally slipping off-script to answer questions with unexpected honesty. Most of the excerpts from such interviews are good enough to make a cut in TedTalk. Read on!
1. In 2001, Tabu spoke called out pay disparity between male and female actors and made a valid point.
Twitter
Source: Rendezvous with Simi Grewal
2. Talking about her 1981 film Chakra,?Smita Patil spoke about the objectification of women to 'sell films' and guess what? It is still relevant in 2022.?
Source: Doordarshan Archives | Prasar Bharti
3. When Waheeda Rehman recollected a non-negotiable clause in all her contracts.?She said she was clear on two things when she started her film career ¨C one that she would not wear a bikini and the other that she would not change her name as was the phenomenon then.
Source: At ĄŽConversations with Waheeda RehmanĄ¯ by author Nasreen Munni Kabir's book launch event | PTI
4. Ratna Pathak Shah called out the faux-star culture and said most?A-list actors are not good at their craft.?
Twitter
5. In an old interview with Simi Garewal from 1985, Rekha spoke about how having a career and a love life are two different things.?
Source: Rendezvous with Simi Grewal
6. When Madhuri said she didn't mind being recommended for a role even though she reinstated that she would never please anyone.?
Source:?Madhuri Dixit interview from 1988
7.?When Urmila said how she broke the mold of a 'sex bomb' and never shied away from slashing her remuneration if she liked a role.
Source: PTI, 2018
8.?In 2019, Zeenat Aman spoke about the never-ending gender disparity in Bollywood without mincing her words.
Source: BBC, 2019
9. In 2018, in an interview with?Pritish Nandy, Dimple Kapadia pointed out how Bollywood used to limit the meaning of a 'woman-centric film.'?
Source:?Dimple Kapadia Part 2 | Episode 9 | The Pritish Nandy Show | PNC
10. In 2013,?Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore spoke about the drastic change in the way women are perceived in the acting profession over the years
Source: Doordarshan
11.?Juhi has always spoken the truth without sugarcoating any fact. She once talked about the rivalry between her and Madhuri and explained how it could get complicated for two heroines to coexist.?
Indiatimes
Source: Koffee With Karan
12. When Sridevi expressed how she feels when people see her for superficial reasons and forget to acknowledge her work as an actor.?
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