Why Shabana Azmi feels she and Javed Akhtar should have had an arranged marriage

Veteran Bollywood actor, Padma Shree awardee and activist Shabana Azmi needs no introduction. The five time national award-winning artiste is known to express her world views just the way she likes it — raw, brief and crystal clear. During her recent visit to the city, Shabana delivered a talk at an event on the topic, ‘Women competing and rising on their own terms’ ahead of International Women’s Day. From how everything is in the intention to what makes her marriage work; here are excerpts from an exclusive with Bengaluru Chronicle...

Bengaluru’s alluring cosmopolitanism: “Shopping! There are certain places in this city that I like shopping at. I look forward to that and the food. But, most importantly, I like the cosmopolitanism here. That’s what impresses me about this city.”

On empowerment: “I feel women and men are different — I’m not saying better or worse. Just that difference needs to be celebrated. If women, when they become empowered, behave exactly like men, then the world is not going to change. We need to celebrate this difference in thinking. There is a lot of difference between uniformity and equality. You can be different but equal. I think that’s what we need to understand as women — That we do not need to aspire to behave just like a man. Different but equal.”

A public figure in the digital era: “There are advantages and disadvantages. You have direct access to millions of followers. Amitabh Bachchan has 33 million fans. One tweet and he can reach all of them – what a privilege that is!”

On Sridevi’s demise: ‘We reached an all-new low with our speculations. I was very upset at the way Sridevi’s tragedy was handled in the electronic media. I felt that everybody must come out very strongly and say, jis tarah ke low matlab we reached the depths of depravity. I feel that should become a benchmark of where we should never go. There was a lot of outrage. The complete lack of sensitivity was very upsetting.”

Filmmakers and responsibility in bringing forth neat ‘item number’: “It’s all in the intention of the creative artist. Is the creative artist trying to titillate or is he/she trying to express beauty? Because it is perfectly possible that you can find a nude very attractive and you can find a completely fully clad person vulgar. It is in the intention. When people say, ‘Oh they have item numbers because they are celebrating sensuality’ — which is a welcome thing, because you should celebrate sensuality. What you are overlooking is you are actually objectifying or commodifying the woman — under the pretence of celebrating her sensuality.

The way the camera lingers over the woman’s body in fragmented bits. That’s what commodifies and objectifies women. So, in itself per say, there is no value judgement. It is in the intention of the film maker — and that shows.”

How the magic in her marriage remains – ‘Javed and I should’ve had an arranged marriage’: We have a common world view. Ours is not just a marriage but a deep-rooted friendship. Apart from loving Javed, I like him very much. What happens in a relationship is two people are so busy, they are working and they have their individual identities and then they come together. One is not impinging on the other’s identity and living vicariously through it. It makes an unfair demand on the relationship. Have your own individual things to do, then the relationship will be healthier.”

“Javed’s father was a member of the Congress party. So was mine. There were so many similarities in Javed and my background that we feel we should’ve had an arranged marriage. Because we are so perfectly matched in terms of the background that we come from.”