From Akshay Kumar to Ranveer Singh: Men in Bollywood talk about featuring in woman-centric films

Whether it’s Fashion, Kahaani, Queen, NH10 or Neerja, Bollywood heroines have made the inevitable happen. They have not only shouldered women-centric subjects to success at the box-office, but also managed to create a new wave in Bollywood. One where producers and filmmakers are willing to risk their investment by casting only a leading actress in their films. Sans any heavyweight male hero. While most times, it is indeed about the small budget that such films are made in which plays spoilsport, it’s a no-brainer that the leading heroes of Bollywood too aren’t willing to be the showpiece in a film where the heroine is busy wielding the gun. 

After Hrs caught up with a few leading actors from Bollywood and quizzed them about the same. Here’s what they had to say...

'I’ll happily take a backseat’

—Akshay Kumar

There’s nothing male-centric or female-centric for me. To me, both are equal. So when it’s required, I will happily take a backseat. When I did a film called Aitraaz, it belonged to Kareena and Priyanka. There was Sangharsh, too. A film has to be appreciated. It doesn’t matter how much is my role is in it, whether I come ahead or the heroine comes ahead.

'It all depends on whose perspective you are seeing the film from’

—Ranbir Kapoor

In the end, what a male actor does or a female actor does is not beyond what the content of the film is. Say for example, a film like Piku, the content was bigger than anything. It’s not about who’s bringing which star to the table. Having said that, you cannot belittle anyone’s involvement in the film. Whether it’s Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, or Deepika, everyone adds to a film’s success. So, it also depends on whose perspective you are seeing the film from. It all depends on whose story it is.

' An actor does a film only if he’s excited about the role’

—Shahid Kapoor

Why does an actor do a film? Because he’s excited to do his part. That’s the only reason for me to say yes to a film. Everything else is in you guys’ heads. What type, what genre, what’s the screen time? Udta Punjab has four principal characters — two male and two females. There’s an A-lister playing all those four characters. That answers the question.

'I won’t think twice before saying yes’

—Ranveer Singh

There’s absolutely nothing wrong in taking up a film where the heroine is the main protagonist. I would welcome more such films and I am surprised no one has ever offered me such roles. But if someone comes to me with a kickass script where I only have about 10-15 minutes of screen time, I won’t think twice before saying yes. But yes, I do feel that having a star in such films will take away the efforts and the appreciation from the heroine to whom the film eventually belongs in totality. That’s also not fair. So it’s a two-way thing.

'It needs to be backed by writing'

—Sidharth Malhotra

It's not whether it's woman-oriented or not. It's more about 'Does my part have something to do in the film?' You also don't want to do movies because koi aur star kar raha hai. It depends on your reasons and it needs to be backed by writing. So far, even both Brothers and Kapoor & Sons have been thoroughly backed by writing.

'Such films need actors more than stars'

—Arjun Kapoor

I hate these words like women-centric and others because the dynamics of cinema should not depend on whether it's for males or females. Some stories are better told with female protagonists and some stories are better told with male protagonists. As society evolves, story-telling evolves. Today, women have become stronger beings in terms of how their stories shape up and the way they have become worth talking. Of course, today, roles are being so beautifully written that even if a good director comes up with a short but good role, you consider it. There's evolution today but we have a long way to go. For me, as an actor, it's a very hypothetical situation whether I would want to do something like that. It depends on director, story being told and sometimes it's only about what connects with you.

'Screen time doesn't matter to me'

—Sooraj Pancholi

I think it's a great move. I don't have any apprehensions about all that. If the role is good, why not? In fact, the last few women-oriented films that have released are films that I have loved and enjoyed watching on screen. I think Neerja was fabulous and it doesn't matter what screen time I will get, I will always love to be a part of a great film. That's what matters most to me. I'm definitely open to such offers.

'You cast a film based on what it demands'

—Abhishek Bachchan

People get cast for films because the team feels they are apt for the role. It's very wrong to say that they are chosen just because stars are unavailable. It's a wrong thought. See Sarbjit. I think Randeep is a great choice because he looks a lot like Sarabjit. I did Umrao Jaan, which wasn't about me. You do a film, you cast a film based on what it demands.

OPPOSITE OPINION

'I won't do a women-centric film'

—Tiger Shroff

I don't think I will ever do a film like that. That's not something I have in my mind right now.