IT IS EASIER TO STAY RELEVANT NOW: KAJOL

The actor feels it is easier for stars to stay in the limelight now, thanks to the advent of social media

Thank God for people who watch a wide variety of movies, so that we are not restricted by just these genres of romance, comedy and action.

KAJOL ACTOR

Actor Kajol has been in the movie business for 26 years now, but even after all these years, her popularity remains intact. And she believes that one of the reasons behind still being relevant is “the pull of social media”.

She says, “It’s easier to stay relevant now than it was earlier, because we have this huge thing called social media, which makes it much easier for you to stay in the limelight, talk about things, and build a brand per se in today’s times. This was never there at your disposal earlier.”

She adds that because social media has such a wide reach, everyone has an even chance to become popular on those platforms. “There are obviously pros and cons, and one of the pros is that you are able to do what you want to do. Your stardom may not be of that level either, but nobody can fail [on social media] because you project yourself (in a certain way). In today’s day-and-age, if you can’t do well in a film, you pick up or do well at something else... you have that option. Earlier, it was a do or die situation on a very, very public platform,” Kajol explains.

Kajol recently starred in the film Helicopter Eela, in which she played the lead role. Of late, many makers have been backing films led entirely by a female cast, and in 2018 alone, Raazi and Veere Di Wedding have been shining examples. So, what does Kajol think is the reason behind this change?

“What has changed, honestly, is the fact that the audience has changed. I think the fact that people are willing to go in big numbers, and see these films… the numbers have increased, which is the crux of any business. When the numbers go up, you automatically know for a fact that you will be interested ( to explore varied subjects),” says the actor, adding that it’s not as if there weren’t any backers before.

“It’s not that you didn’t have directors or the creativity before. You just didn’t have the numbers to back that kind of financial investment. Thank God for all those people who have decided that they are going to watch a wide variety of movies, so that we are not restricted by just these genres of romance, comedy and action,” says Kajol. Ask her if the pay parity between male and female actors has also become better now, and the actor confesses, “I think it has definitely improved. There are no two ways about it. We are two steps forward, one step backward. It’s a slow and steady race. We are getting there, and we eventually will.”

PHOTO: PRASAD NAIK