It's (not) a man's world
The recent spate of big-ticket films produced by women shows a refreshing change in the industry's attitude, with women on top.
Bollywood is often said to be a man’s world. With male superstars raking in the moolah, it’s obvious to see why the popular perception is that. Not just in front of the camera; the Hindi film industry is also notorious for having had the production department of movies being run by men. That is, until now.
The past year, as well as 2017 has seen the rise of female producers, who are not just taking the industry head on, but are raising the bar higher for all. Take for example Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment.
At 29, not only is she one of the youngest producers in the industry, she’s delivered one of the biggest hits of 2016 — Rustom. Quiz her on stepping into what’s stereotypically considered to be a man’s world, and Prernaa nonchalantly brushes insinuations of it having been a difficult task. “When we say this is a male-dominated industry, it’s because it’s always men who have donned that hat. Women are now stepping into this zone, and it’s all about passion. It really depends on how many women want to do this. Things are easy; it’s not like you’re doing it all alone. It’s all teamwork, and your work gets distributed easily,” she smiles. “Besides that, I enjoy being a producer because it’s challenging.”
Anushka Sharma too felt the lure of production, and threw the hat in the ring with NH10 and Phillauri. The actress joined hands with her brother Karnesh, and says that it was the right time for her to do so. “I had never thought of venturing into production. But I listen to my inner voice. So when the thought of turning producer took shape in my mind, I knew I had to do it and I just decided to take the plunge. I gave it my 100 per cent. In the future too, if I get an idea about dabbling into any other sphere of filmmaking, I shall go ahead with it,” she explains.
Madhu Chopra is another producer, who believes she has her priorities right. Mother of Priyanka Chopra, she says that she relies on the actress to help her get her moves as producer right. “I’m very practical and execute what Priyanka tells me,” she explains. “It’s a clinical effort for me.”
Currently, Madhu is on cloud nine after Ventilator, her venture into regional cinema, won three National Awards. “It’s surreal!” she exclaims. “What started as a dream for Purple Pebble Pictures has turned into reality, and the credit goes to the entire team for making it a huge success.”
For all the three leading producers of the industry, it’s important to be aware of their surroundings. “You have to be practical to survive here,” asserts Prernaa. “And I’m practical. You can’t go overboard here. One can only sustain oneself if they’re grounded and aware of their surroundings. It’s a very competitive field, so you have to be on your toes.”
Madhu adds that her production house constantly looks out to give a platform to talented people. As for Anushka, known to be a no-nonsense actor, she’s also a headstrong producer, who’s making her way across a male-dominated industry, while earning credibility. “We live in a man’s world where women face challenges at every step. It hasn’t been a cakewalk for me to work in the film industry as a woman. But with the support of my brother Karnesh, we have made it. I think I have made the best use of my popularity in the industry. This was the right time for me to start my own production house because I have established myself as an actor. The corporate producers can trust me,” she concludes, firmly.
(With inputs from Uma Ramasubramanian and Lipika Varma)