“Ask us more,” said Freida Pinto, when a reporter from a fashion magazine asked her about what she was planning to wear for the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa) Awards green carpet.
Men don’t face that predicament about answering questions about their clothes or grooming, so why should women?, she asked.
Say hello to Pinto, a star who’s willing to roll with the punches. She doesn’t need a filter or a publicist who lays down rules, she believes in speaking her mind.
From discussing Salman Khan’s rape remark to women being objectified in Bollywood, no topic is off the table with Pinto. Gulf News tabloid! gives you our unvarnished account of our group interview with the actress, who was the first of the Indian actresses to take the West by storm post Slumdog Millionare ...
On being honoured the International Icon Of The Year award:
“It feels great, but it’s a bit premature and early. People work their whole life before something like this even happens to them, so I will take on this title as earnestly as I can. I have always been advocate of talents travelling across the world and believe in cultural exchange. The concept of being in one place does not appeal to me. But words like icon are bestowed upon us by the media and we feel privileged. But I do believe that nothing is permanent in life.”
On taking on Bollywood films:
“I have never divided my work into: ‘I will only do this or that alone’ and therefore, I have done several co-productions in my career. But if you ask me if I will do an out-and-out song and dance Bollywood film, I will do that only when I feel I can give it my all. I don’t like to set myself up for failure. If I were to attempt to do something like what our beautiful Deepika [Padukone] did in a heavy skirt [in Bajirao Mastani], then you guys will be wondering ‘what’s this woman doing’. While I applaud the immense talent among Bollywood actors, I have a certain sensibility about what I can do and [what] I cannot. Plus, I am sure that Deepika must have worked out a lot to lift that heavy skirt.”
On the responsibilities of celebrities:
“Often you might want to say something and it may not be negative, but may be unconventional, then the responsibility comes with consequences. You have to be strong enough or bold enough to say sorry when you are wrong or stand behind what you said if you are right. There is a lot of responsibility on us, but not because you said so, because we should feel so.”
On women being objectified in Bollywood:
“I have never done a Bollywood film, so it’s out of turn to speak about it. But as a spectator, I do feel that there is a change in the trend now. Yes, you do have the over-sexualised women in films, but it’s not just a Bollywood phenomenon. Even in a Hollywood film, you have a woman trying to save the world, but in high heels. The producers want her to wear those heels because there has always been the sexualisation of the female form. It exists in all our industries. But you have to also remember that art imitates life and the general mentality has to change. Men view women a certain way and women view women a certain way. If there’s a change in our mindset, then there will be a forced need by the industry to take note and say that they won’t represent the woman in that way. Now, we have strong women in Bollywood now. But it’s a collective responsibility.”
On whether she feels safe in India due to the rising sexual violence against women:
“I feel safe in Mumbai. Even if a city isn’t safe, if you are familiar with that environment, you tend to feel safe. I never feel unsafe in Mumbai, but in New Delhi — a city that I am not familiar with — I am aware that going out late isn’t recommended. Sometimes, it is disconcerting to hear people in the West say they feel unsafe in India. Fair enough, but there are unsafe places in America, too.”
On producing her own films:
“I am already in the process of telling stories that I relate to. I am unconventional and I like looking for investors and producers from other parts of the world. My first production will be a South Asian story.”
On celebrities like Woody Allen and [ First Lady] Michelle Obama reaching out to her:
“I have worked in a campaign called Let Girls Learn last year. From that stemmed a wonderful conversation how girls from Liberia or America can learn from girls from India and other countries. Michelle Obama wrote this lovely letter and she said let’s do an international trip. When her team called me back, I jumped on the opportunity. Field trips are important because how long can I keep just speak[ing] about it.”
On being asked what she’s wearing on the red carpet:
“Social media covers all that and more in a big way. I don’t ever feel like ever talking about it. Ask us more than just about our clothes. It should be a responsibility of fashion magazines to ask her [a woman] more. I feel like on the red carpet, [media should] start a trend where you ask more than what she is wearing. We don’t ask men what they are wearing.”
