Javed Akhtar Discusses Female Representation in Cinema

Javed Akhtar recently discussed the portrayal of female characters in Bollywood, emphasizing that actresses like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit did not receive significant roles due to society's unclear understanding of contemporary women. He noted that while these actresses were equally talented as past legends like Meena Kumari and Nargis, societal norms at the time did not allow for their full potential to be realized. Akhtar lamented the loss of the 'silent woman' archetype without a clear replacement, stating, 'Main chup rahungi is out, but who is in? Nobody knows.' He praised his daughter Zoya Akhtar for successfully depicting modern women in her films, despite her discomfort with his praise. Akhtar also reflected on the decline of the 'Angry Young Man' character, arguing that societal reflections in cinema must evolve to remain relevant. His comments were made during an interview with The Indian Express and were featured in a recent documentary series on his partnership with Salim Khan.