‘Bollywood is not sexist’

Neha Saini

If there was an official admiration society in Bollywood, Farah Khan would have been the most loved and popular person. But as far as mutual admiration goes, Farah loves Bollywood and vice versa. Period!

The choreographer-turned-director was in Amritsar to launch the FICCI FLO’s 15th chapter and was her at witty best while interacting with the ladies. “I watched a lot of Bollywood masala entertainers as a kid and my love for all things typically Bollywood is because of that. But it was actually Michael Jackson, who inspired me to take up dancing. One day I saw Thriller and it changed my life,” she shared.

Quite vocal about her opinions, Farah says she has endured 25 years in the film industry and that’s her biggest achievement. Being praised for her films making it to the 100-crore club as a director, she enjoys every bit of what she does. “I have seen a lot of failures since my childhood, so I am not bogged down by it. For me, every film is a struggle, irrespective of its outcome. I love making fun films and would be very open to making one on a women-centric subject.”

Changing times

While recent statements by certain actors on wage disparity and casting couch in Bollywood made headlines, Farah says that Bollywood is not that sexist. “I mean every industry has its set of issues, but Bollywood is not as sexist as people think. I have worked for so many years in this industry and there was a time when I used to be the only female crew member on outdoor shoots. I’d never felt threatened or have been mistreated. Times are changing now.”

But she does say that in the wake of recent incidents that threaten women and child safety, as mothers, we need to work on our sons. “I feel we need to start raising our sons right, teach them to behave and respect girls.”

Personal note

For someone, who is privy to Bollywood A-listers, Farah says she doesn’t socialize much. “I like to spend the time off work with my kids.” As smitten by Bollywood as she was in her childhood, surprisingly her kids do not want to become actors. “One of my daughters wants to become a veterinarian, the other one wants to become a nail polish girl at a salon and my son, currently, wants to become a writer.” If one of them gets bitten by the bug at all, she says, she will not produce their film. And we let the nepotism question take rest, for a while!