Kitu Gidwani: Unfortunately, there is no market for older women actors
Actor Kitu Gidwani, who once ruled the small screen with shows such as Swabhimaan and Shaktimaan, rues the fact that there are hardly any meaty roles being written for middle-aged women like her. The 55-year-old expresses disappointment over the absence of good scripts for older women.
“I’m a better actor today than I was 20 years ago. But the market has to accept that. Unfortunately, there is no market for older women; people are very youth-oriented. In America and the UK, older women get fabulous parts. Somehow, our film industry is lagging 20 years behind. It is very conservative and scared of (showing) empowered women for some reason,” says Gidwani.
Citing her own example, she adds that there are many people like her who are not mothers and have other passions in life. “Everyone is not a mum looking after children, or cooking for the husband after their 30s. The film industry doesn’t know how to write pathbreaking roles for women over the age of 30, forget 40,” she adds.
Work or no work, the actor has always been in the spotlight and that it has never been an issue. “I’m very focused on myself and have thoroughly enjoyed my career. I never devoted time to a husband, children and all. You take what you get in terms of the market,” she says.
After getting no offers as the lead on OTT, Gidwani is now set to return to television after 22 years. The show will be an adaptation of a Turkish series. “It’s a usual family drama, but mine is a very strong character. Ironically, TV is giving me what OTT is not. One is always looking for a part in which they can lose themselves in the character. It is a completely different feeling when you are playing a character that is unlike you,” she shares.