‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ actress feels the word ‘liberal’ has acquired negative connotation in India
- Ratna Pathak Shah, the actress of "Lipstick Under My Burkha" feels sad that the word ‘liberal’ has acquired negative connotation.
- Ratna said it is ironic that women in the country are considered a minority.
- She also felt that the "majoritarian" idea is acceptable in India.
FollowRatna Pathak Shah, the actress, whose latest movie "Lipstick Under My Burkha" was in trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), said that she is worried about the widening gap between people in the country.
The actress felt it is sad that the word 'liberal' has acquired a negative connotation today and believes it is the time people should be united to fight against the agenda.
On whether the censor board was always as rigid as it is today, Ratna, in an interview to PTI, said, "No. They were always silly in what they were chopping and cutting, but I don't think there was such a serious agenda. Now, there seems to be an agenda. I can't shake off that feeling. I would like to fight that agenda."
Ratna says it is ironic that women in the country are considered a minority and it is troubling that only the "majoritarian" idea is acceptable.
"That's one of my greatest fears about what's happening in our country today, how it is going to affect minorities - the women. Women are not even minorities, considering we are 50 per cent of the population but in everyone's head we are,” she said.
The "Kapoor & Sons" actress is, however, happy to see people taking up the fight on the Internet and beyond.
"It will be a tough fight. We are in for really hard times in our country. The polarities are becoming wider, there seems to be no desire to bring people together in the country. Unfortunately, I see this replicated in many parts of the world," she says.
The 60-year-old actress is pained to see how people have turned "the whole idea of modernity on its head".
"It's devastating to me because I've personally invested in the way of looking at the world with reason, acceptance and openness rather than with rules and refusals. Liberal has become a bad word, that's a 'gaali' (abuse) today.
"This idea flowered, bloomed, showed us how beautiful it can be and it's beginning to wither. What are we going to do to protect that flower? How are we going to see that it doesn't wither? That's our fight."
The actress says she is not worried about the present generation but the future is what she is concerned about.
