Soni Razdan, Aahana Kumra discuss ageism in Bollywood: ‘Huge struggle’

Soni Razdan, Aahana Kumra and Ayush Mehra are all set to take us contained in the lives of expertise managers to Bollywood stars of their upcoming sequence Call My Agent: Bollywood. Ahead of the present’s premiere, indianexpress.com bought the chance to stream first three episodes of the present. In the very first episode, which has a cameo look of the very lovely Dia Mirza, we’re informed how Bollywood has no place for an ageing lady whereas males of their 50s proceed to dominate the field workplace. The time period ‘ageism’ is subtly referred, which made us ask the solid their expertise in Bollywood and if they’ve concern of not getting work after a sure age.
“You can’t stop aging. It is good to play certain parts at a certain age. There are perfect examples in the West. There’s Meryl Streep, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who’re playing their age and it’s so beautiful and graceful to see them age so well on screen. I believe our industry is also gradually moving towards that. Not a lot of roles were being written for older people earlier. But now, they are being explored,” Ayush mentioned.

Aahana mentions how she has had the honour of working with some nice girls regardless of their age, together with Konkona Sensharma, Soni Razdan and Ratna Pathak Shah. The “proud” actor, nevertheless, recalled her battle as an outsider. “I did theater for good ten years. In that time, I didn’t take up any work on television or films for because I could not understand those mediums. In films, I was getting roles like heroine ki friend, heroine ki behen. They were really strange roles. On television, I was kicked out because I was not a ‘conventional bahurani.’ They would be like ‘She’s not looking like she will listen to her saasuma.’ So, by the time I actually started getting roles, or I got my first work in cinema, I had already aged. And then you realise that ‘oh my god, I wish I was much younger and I would have done this part.’”
She, nevertheless, believes OTT has modified the enterprise. “Having said that, I’m grateful to the OTT platforms that we don’t have to only worry about a film or a TV serial. I have to also now look at an OTT platform that is writing roles for women, telling stories about a woman who’s middle aged and older. I don’t have to worry about crossing 30,” Aahana mentioned, citing instance of Ratna’s function in Lipstick Under My Burkha and Soni’s function in Your Story.

“For my film with Soni, Your Story, we had gone to Busan. After the screening was over, Korean women related with our characters. So, you realize that ageism is something women across the world have to face. But I have to mention, the role that Ratna did in Lipstick has to be one of the most incredible parts. She played it with utmost dignity for a 60-year-old woman. And what a nice story to tell at 60 that you don’t stop living or don’t just read the Bhagavad Gita!”
Soni Razdan agreed that getting a very good function after a sure age is usually a battle. “I’m getting work today, but for many years, I didn’t get any work for obvious reasons (hinting at age). Also there were just too few roles available for mothers (back then). So yes, it (Bollywood) was completely skewed towards men. Men could be 40, 50 and 60 and getting really good roles but women just didn’t have those opportunities. Thankfully, I have to say that’s changed. But it is a recent change. So today I’m having the time of my life,” the actor mentioned.
“Stories don’t stop just because you are 60 or 50 or 70 or 80. Stories continue. Life goes on. So, there’s absolutely no reason why a woman of 60 or 65 or 70 should not be playing the lead role. I think now is really the time that ageism is falling by the wayside. However, it’s still a long way from women getting the sort of roles men are approached for,” Soni mentioned.

Adding to Soni, Aahana mentioned, “I still think Bollywood really needs to up its game because OTT platforms are stepping it up. We have 20-year-old girls romancing 60-year-old uncles. I’m sorry to use that word, but they are uncles.”

“There is this obsession, this youth obsession and they feel most of the audience is young. This is not true anymore thanks to streaming platforms. People of all ages are watching content. Storytelling has changed in the last four years. Actors are having the best time. Look at the talent in our industry. Just normal people becoming actors. It’s incredible,” she concluded.

Soni Razdan, Aahana Kumra and Ayush Mehra, together with Rajat Kapoor, will function in Call My Agent: Bollywood, which can stream on Netflix on October 29.