April 27, 2008
Films are to Entertain, Not Preach:
Kirron Kher By Azera Rahman
New Delhi
Kirron Kher may be supporting a campaign against eve teasing - an
Indian euphemism for mild forms of sexual harassment on the streets
- but the Bollywood actor feels films are only meant for
entertainment and not for spreading social messages.
"Films are meant to entertain people, not preach social messages.
Art films are best left to do that," Kher, who is also a theatre
personality, told IANS in her ever frank and vivacious manner.
In the capital to felicitate young women achievers in diverse
fields, Kher said that it was however important that celebrities
take up issues of social importance and talk about them because they
have a great influence on the masses' opinion.
"People look up to celebrities and public figures. Therefore it is
their responsibility to take up social issues and talk about them
because they have the capability to change people's opinions and
attitudes," she said.
"For my part, I am already a part of the programme called 'Ladli'
which campaigns for the girl child. And now, on an invitation by the
ministry of women and child development, I have pledged my support
to the campaign against eve teasing," she said. Although at this age
I would love to get eve teased!" Kher, who is middle aged, quickly
added and laughed.
A brilliant actor, Kher made her debut in a Punjabi film, "Asra Pyar
Da", in 1983 and earned rave reviews for her performance. She was
given a National Film Award for her role in the film "Sardari Begum"
in 1997 and the National Film Award for best actress for the Bengali
film "Bariwali" in 2000.
She was also awarded the IIFA best supporting actress award for her
role in the film "Devdas" in 2003 and the Bronze Leopard award at
the Locarno International Film festival for her role in "Khamosh
Pani" in the same year.
Some of her recent endearing performances were in the films "Rang De
Basanti" in which she played Aamir Khan's mother Mitro, and in "Om
Shanti Om" where she played the starry eyed mother of Shah Rukh
Khan, Bela Makhija.
"When I was just starting out in my career, I took an eight-year
hiatus to bring up my son, Sikandar, from 1988 to 1996. It was such
a natural decision...he needed me the most at that time.
"Sometimes we tend to overdo the women thing...men can be more
vulnerable than women," she said.
Wearing her long mane loose and smoothening the pleats of her cream
coloured silk sari, Kher said she is as aggressive as her husband,
veteran actor Anupam Kher, is calm.
"But I am a survivor. And my son is just like me," she smiled.
"Like most of today's kids, Sikander didn't really ask our
permission to join films. It was his decision," Kher said about
Sikander, whose pipeline projects include "Woodstock Villa" and
"Summer of 2007".
Asked about her future plans, the ace actor said she was open to
different roles, even on the small screen provided it interested her
enough.
"But you will never see me in the serials!" she said.
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