Once upon a time, when Bollywood was still known as Hindi Film Industry, the character sketches of Heroes, Heroines, Villains and Vamps were very different then the present ones. A Hero was the one who respected women and elders and could sacrifice all he had for his love. Chivalry was an essential trait. Heroines too were the typical 'Bhartiya Naari'. That was an era when peeping toms and playboys were villains and revealing dress worn by Vamps still covered their skin with 'skin'.
CUT TO! And from flashback we are back to present...where peeping toms and playboys are our 'Bollywood' heroes and female leads bare everything. Item numbers with zoom-in close up shots of cleavages and other fleshy female body parts has become common 'masala' in Bollywood movies. The time when advertisements could be seen with whole family is past, today most ads try to sell products with the tadka of SEX. Surely we have come a long way...from being a conservative society to a modern one. No?
Sex sells... and so even serious news papers, in their Entertainment section include 'eye-catching' pictures of celebs. Many 'conservatives' have been cribbing about Bollywood and media's obsession with sex and its adverse effects on the society, since long... a reality check came as Times of India's post about Deepika Padukone's cleavage. - the circle is complete.
The most shocking thing about the article was that whatever little cleavage was visible, was due to the bird's eye view angle of the camera. The cameraman/woman sure had some voyeuristic tendencies. Also, the heading too was absolutely ridiculous and crass. It was a welcome change to see Deepika Padukone give ToI a piece of her mind. Someone had to show such news papers a mirror. Soon #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was trending on twitter.
But wait. Now that we have shown ToI its place, who will do the same to Bollywood? Bollywood actors did not lose time in supporting Deepika...but isnt this the same Bollywood that thrives on Item numbers and display of flesh and 'bold' scenes?
Remember the tagline used for a movie titled 'Ragini MMS'? ... "have you seen Ragini's MMS?"...where was your outrage back then, Bollywood celebs? A naked Aamir Khan standing with nothing but a transistor, a nude Sunny Leone laying naked covered only with a translucent sheet, some actress (whose name I wont even bother to google) sits almost naked on a bed displaying her bare back with her waist covered with a bedsheet - these are not just some movie scenes that pass through but posters that stayed for months on huge hoardings...and these are only 3 amongst innumerable such posters. This is the same industry which is plagued by 'Casting Couch', exploiting males and females. How does then Bollywood dare claim moral high grounds?
Here are few more question - what enraged Deepika Padukone? Was it about her modesty or was it about her consent? Its obvious to assume that it was about her consent, since there are many pictures of her from her photoshoots that give a better view. If such is the case, shouldn't Bollywood issue a guideline for press making it clear what should and what shudnt be published? Oh, but wouldn't that conflict with Bollywood's own interests? What a dilemma!
Deepika in one of her tweets also talks about respecting women, but how does one demand respect for what she/he objectifies? Oh damn! Another dilemma?
Bollywood has for long encashed on masses' obsession with flesh and sex...seems like its time to taste their own medicine.
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