Why the fuss over bold roles, it’s 2022, says Tejaswini Pandit

Actor Tejaswini Pandit received numerous questions concerning the bold look she had for her last digital series, Raanbazaar, in which she played a prostitute. While the questions reeked of sexism, Pandit answered them with a smile. “It’s very irritating when people ask me, kasa watla bold madhe role karun? ( Laughs) I don’t understand [what’s the fuss]. It’s 2022; why is this still a thing?” Pandit quips.

The actor believes the Marathi audience gets offended when a female actor from their industry picks a rather risque role. “The problem with Marathi audiences is that they find things bold only when a Marathi actor does it. If they watch other actors, then it’s not bold for them. There are so many actors, such as Deepika (Padukone) and others, who have done intimate scenes, stripped (their) clothes, but they (audience) won’t find them bold. They won’t get offended by them [non-Marathi actors] when they do [such roles]. However, they do get offended when a Marathi actor does it,” she shares.

The Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (2010) actor also has another reason as to why the Marathi audience becomes so conservative towards a Marathi actor: “It is because we are very relatable. I understand that every artiste (in Marathi showbiz) is considered a part of the audience’s family. They look at us like ‘mere ghar ki ladki hai’, but they don’t understand that it’s our job. It’s acting, and just like there are various elements to it, this is one of them. If you don’t treat it as we do, then you will get offended. But we will get there. Marathi audiences will take some time to get there.”