Transforming the country’s entertainment juggernaut
GLASS CEILING The book profiles 20 trailblazers who have cut through the ranks of a maledominated field to establish themselves
This book is about women in Bollywood. But it is not about those in the public gaze. The lives and loves, films and careers of actors are well chronicled. What about those women who work away from the limelight, behind the scenes of the Hindi film industry? You have most likely seen their work but often don’t know it. And you probably aren’t familiar with their names. They belong to a Bollywood we know little about.
Two decades into the twentyfirst century, India is experiencing a seismic societal churn. Women have never been better educated, earned more or lived healthier lives. From boardrooms to courtrooms, factory floors to software centres, in sports, in the arts and in science, they have made great strides.
Yet, Indian women continue to encounter significant hurdles in the form of systemic oppression and deep-rooted cultural biases. The gender ratio is grossly imbalanced: India has 37 million more men than women, according to the 2011 census. Women remain physically vulnerable. The wage gap is a pressing problem. And despite a growing economy their numbers in the workforce are declining. A 2017 World Bank report says that only 27 per cent of Indian women are employed.
Against this paradox, one industry presents an intriguing picture: Bollywood. Although the odds remain stacked against women in this field too—the gender ratio in India’s film industry is 6.2 men to every woman, according to a report by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media—the past two decades have seen a record number of women work behind the scenes of Hindi cinema.
While there is no data to track their numbers, there is strong anecdotal evidence. Actor Katrina Kaif says, ‘I see more women on a film set for sure. Sometimes, you’ll notice over 65 per cent of the people present are
women.’ Film star Vidya Balan concurs. ‘Earlier, they were in the art and costume departments, but today, there are more women working as assistant directors and camera operators.’
Anil Kapoor, who has been acting for close to forty years, attributes this significant change to education, evolving mindsets, as well as the growing professionalism, discipline and corporate structure that defines the movie business today... This changing demographic is influencing what we see on screen. Karan Johar says, ‘Women have made our films more edgy, more progressive, more relatable and much more accountable.’
This book pulls the curtain back on a group of women working in an industry that India is obsessed with. We profile twenty trailblazers who have cut through the ranks of a traditionally male-dominated field to establish themselves as undisputed leaders in their craft. They contribute to an art form that feeds the dreams and fuels the imagination of a billionpeople. Their journeys are nothing short of extraordinary.
These women are disruptors. Charu Khurana took her fight for women to work as make-up artists in Bollywood—a right they were denied for six decades—to India’s Supreme Court. Priya Seth is a director of photography on commercial blockbusters. Anaita Shroff Adajania, who styles Bollywood stars, changed the way a generation of Indians dress. Geeta Tandon overcame years of sexual abuse to become one of the few women stunt artists in the industry. Anupama Chopra redefined film journalism. Kiran Rao resurrected a languishing film festival, and turned the spotlight on indie cinema. By placing female characters centre stage, Gauri Shinde’s films make audiences rethink conventional wisdom and social norms. Juhi Chaturvedi’s screenplays make sensitive subjects like sperm donation a topic of national conversation. Anvita Dutt Guptan conjures up haunting lyrics.
Geeta Kapur puts the oomph in our dance moves. Shubha Ramachandra ensures our movies are seamless. Amrita Mahal Nakai designs beautiful sets that transport us, for a brief while, to another world. Deepa Bhatia toils silently, skilfully stitching stories together. Amrita Pandey helps run a global studio that takes Hindi films to key overseas markets like China. Shikha Kapur markets films so cleverly that we, the audience, rush to buy a theatre ticket. Shanoo Sharma’s casting gives films authenticity. Guneet Monga’s productions bridge the gap between East and West. Rohini Iyer, the ultimate reputation manager, is the go-to publicist for Bollywood A-listers.
Hetal Dedhia mesmerizes us with the way she lights up a set. And Sneha Khanwalkar’s unique music surprises India with a new sounds.
When we started our research, we found that very few of these women had a prior Bollywood connection. At a time when the Hindi movie industry is being accused of nepotism, the women in this book demonstrate that it is possible to make it in Hindi cinema through talent, persistence and tenacity. Most on our list do not come from film backgrounds. Even now, many are not known outside industry circles. They come from middle-class families and have not had lascivious godfathers or indulgent uncles to coax their careers along. They are where they are because of their determination and hard work.
It was incredibly hard to narrow our list down to just twenty. We made our choices after interviewing industry insiders, experts and academics. By no means is this a comprehensive, exhaustive list, and we would never claim it to be so. In the end, these were the women whose stories spoke to us. We found ourselves wanting to know more about them. Where did they come from? What attracted them to the film business? What madethem persevere? What makes them thrive?
Excerpted from Changemakers: Twenty Women Transforming Bollywood Behind The Scenes By Gayatri Rangachari Shah & Mallika Kapur with permission from Penguin Random House India.