‘WE NEED TO RESPECT WOMEN’S FEELINGS, DESIRES’

Discussions around pay parity, women empowerment and movements against sexual abuse making way for change in Hollywood, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is hoping for a similar effect in India. The critically-acclaimed actor says it is time to give women the respect they deserve. “We need to change. The West is also undergoing a change with respect to women. Women in India are also speaking up about their own experiences,” Nawazuddin said.

“We need to introspect about the way we have treated women for centuries. It is time to change. It is time to look at them from a different perspective. We need to understand their thoughts, desires and feelings, and respect them,” said the actor.

The actor, who has cinematic gems like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Liar’s Dice, Badlapur and Manjhi: The Mountain Man, will soon be seen bringing the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto alive on the big screen with Manto, helmed by Nandita Das. Manto, who died in 1955 at the age of 43, penned an impressive body of work touching various genres. He churned out about 22 collections of stories comprising a novel, essays, personal sketches and movie scripts.

His work also gained attention for weaving stories around the ordeal of partition, freedom of expression as well as sexuality. His work also got him in trouble as he was charged with obscenity six times for his short stories, three times in India before 1947 and three times in Pakistan after 1947.

Nawazuddin says the story of Manto is very much relevant today.

Women in India are also speaking up about their own experiences. It is time to change. It is time to look at them from a different perspective