Shedding the sex symbol status

Not many actresses across the world manage to stay in the spotlight for longer than a few decades, especially, not when their face starts to wrinkle and aging visibly starts to show. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren has been in the constant limelight for over five decades now. She’s had movies during the 80s, where she bared it all, like in Calendar Girls, and also has films like The Queen, where she played the role of Queen Elizabeth II and won herself an Oscar for her role.

What is interesting is how despite all her Academy-award-winning performances, Mirren is still seen with a ‘sex symbol’ tag attached to her, at the age of 71! In a recent interview, Mirren reportedly spoke about how the sex symbol image is going to ‘follow her to her grave’. This raises the question of whether it is not possible to look beyond these tags that actresses receive for their on-screen roles. Does it make it harder for the actresses to be accepted for any other roles, once they’re seen in a few glamourous roles? We speak to actresses from the south Indian film industry on what the response from the industry and audience is like after they feature in ‘item numbers’.

Mankatha actress Raai Laxmi feels if actresses are seen performing the ‘item numbers’, and if the audience enjoys them, the filmmakers also want to see them more often in such roles. “The makers of the film want people who’re successful at what they do in their movies. In my films, I’ve realised that people would love to see me dancing, and in glamorous roles, no matter what story it is. A certain set of audience will be disappointed if I don’t give them that bit. But yes, if the character is strong, the actress is definitely remembered for her role,” the Sowkarpettai actress asserts.

The actress adds that it can be hard to get other roles, if a particular heroine is seen doing ‘item songs’ — “Unfortunately, people give these tags to those who are seen in these glamourous roles. It happens a lot in the south Indian film industry. Although, the situation is slightly changing now, with even well-known actresses taking on glamourous roles. But I definitely hope it opens up more.”
On the other hand, for actress Charmme Kaur, it is just a misconception that a heroine appearing in an ‘item song’ will lose out on other lead roles. She says, “There are many actresses in India who did some sensible roles after the so-called ‘item numbers’. Katrina Kaif did some great glamourous roles and serious roles after performing to Chikni Chameli in Agneepath. Even in the south, there are many actresses like Tamannaah who appeared in item numbers and are still doing some great roles. It is just a misconception that an actress appearing in item numbers will lose out on playing other lead characters. As long as the script needs a particular actress, it does not matter whether she appeared in item numbers previously.”

Anu Aggarwal, who was seen on-screen for her famous song Chandralekha in Mani Ratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda, says the ‘sex symbol’ tag surrounded her when she was in the films. “I was seen as a sex symbol, but I was also offered roles that were very diverse. As individuals, if we’re grounded and don’t give in to stereotypes, these tags wouldn’t affect us. We need to understand that each of the actresses is a lot more than her on-screen roles.”