‘I’ve never thought I was empowered ...’
Actress, comedian, director, former Miss India SA and mother, Krijay Govender epitomises women’s empowerment to many. JOLENE MARRIAH spoke to the 41 year old about the women who inspired her, the values she instils in her daughters – and how she feels abo
Q: What does Women’s Day mean to you?
A: I think we are celebrating it the wrong way. We need to include men – they still look at Women’s Day as a second Mother’s Day. Q: What are the basic lessons women can learn when trying to empower themselves, and how does one start small?
A: I have never thought I was empowered, nor have I thought of myself as a female or woman first.
Strangely enough, I have always just thought of myself as a person. I get treated that way.
I know that education, finances, mobility and communication tools (like the internet) are important for one to get a sense of feeling empowered but, above all, this is association with people, male and female, who inspire and encourage you to do your best. Life is too short to have people pull you down.
That said, I don’t believe in having only like-minded friends or surrounding yourself with super successful people… that’s a myth.
What I do believe in is having genuine positive friends and relationships that stand the test of time. This is far more important. Q: Who has been your biggest female inspiration over the years?
A: All the women in my family and extended family have worked, from aunts to cousins and even grandmothers.
They were not all formally educated but they certainly worked hard to aid their families and husbands with some sort of financial contribution. I love that they did that. It inspired me greatly.
My mother was the first black female computer programmer in South Africa.
She is still extremely tech-savvy and I remember she was on Skype before any of us.
She is a “get on with it” type of woman. We were taught never to mope, or feel sorry for ourselves. We were taught to get on with it. Q: You have been involved in numerous and very different projects over the years, what are some of your highlights, and what are you currently working on?
A: I have been fortunate to have many celebratory moments. I won Miss India 1994 and was second runner-up of Miss India Worldwide in New York.
In terms of acting and comedy, I was voted the funniest female by media a few years ago. I made Gwen Gill’s list of Top South African MCs.
I have won five SA Film and Television Awards, but every project brought its own joys and challenges.
I think in retrospect The Wild got me ready for film direction.
Currently, I am on a third draft of a movie script, and I just directed Gray Hofmeyer’s new project, and a Zulu sitcom – Thandeka’s Diary.
I will be directing my first Afrikaans sitcom for Kyknet soon. Q: Tell us about your family and your roots.
A: I was raised by my grandmother, Lutchmi Naidoo, in Northdene.
I met my husband Praveen in Marianhill, we were head boy and head girl of Nilgiri Secondary School.
My husband is and always was a good friend of mine. We are very different.
We have three kids – Milan, 10, Janah, 7, and Oben, 1.
We run a crazy household. We all fight a lot. We are loud and noisy and all very opinionated. The one thing that is lacking in our house is silence. Q: How do you balance work life and home life?
A: I don’t. I have periods of time when I hardly see my family. But we plan for such periods, and that’s where having a partner who understands your work comes in as a crucial must.