To women of the world…

Divya Dutta

It’s time for good news and I just got to know that my film Gulmakai is being screened in London for the members of the United Nations, Malala and her family too...

We’ve all been so proud of Malala Yousafzai, her trials and tribulations and her successful journey towards an amazing tomorrow, inspiring millions of girls to get educated. And I am so glad we made a beautiful film based on her life and it’s finally showcasing. 

Being an integral part of the film, I am looking forward to the screening, meeting Malala and her family. I shall write more about it when I am back from London... till then wish me and my team all the best.

Back home, I was wondering why our cricket players Hardik and Rahul spoke the way they spoke. Was it because they really felt that way about women, objectifying them? Or, was it that they just wanted to sound interesting and entertaining enough. Whatever may have been the case, I do think India worships cricket and its players and what comes out of their mouth has a huge impact. Hence a lot of fans were shocked and disappointed. Having a bratty, Casanova image may sound attractive but let’s face it, women like men who treat them beautifully, who look after them, respect them and are sensitive towards them…So, I do hope the next time we hear these gentlemen, it will be with that respect and love for women. Same way that their fans had for them which somewhere they have to rebuild not by their cricket but by being responsible Indians.

And on a separate note, I talk about another woman I totally look up to. Shabana Azmi. I am amazed how she had been working day in and day out to make her father Kaifi Saab’s birth centenary memorable. The final result was for all to see. Right from poetry and music sessions that they have annually at their home in Janki Kutir to making kites with Kaifi saab written on them flown in the sky, celebrating him, to a huge concert she had along with Javed saab, Zakir Hussain and Shankar Mahadevan, which was called Raag Shayari. The entire film industry turned up to be with her as she celebrated her father’s 100th birthday. The combination of poetry recital by her and Javed saab and the lethal musical combo of Zakir Saab and Shankar mesmerised the audience. I had my eyes on Shabanaji as she recited her father s lines, with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, with so much pride for a father who gave us the most amazing and revolutionary poetry. I am sure Kaifi saab would be smiling somewhere up there. A proud daughter and an amazing woman and an actor par excellence, a woman I adore. Shabana Azmi.

So, a toast to these amazing women and to a lot of respect towards all the women in the world. 

(Dutta is a Bollywood actress)