India ashamed of sexuality, physicality: Actress Radhika Apte
New Delhi
Mar 23, 2017
Actress Radhika Apte, who has often been under the scanner
for her 'bold' approach in her films, says anything remotely associated
with human body can turn out to be a problem in India -- a country that is 'very
ashamed of sexuality and physicality'.
Sex and sexuality are not the only veiled topics of discussion
in the country.
Menstruation also finds a spot on the list, and Radhika is
happy that the topic is being handled in a 'big way' in her upcoming
Bollywood film 'Pad Man' -- which tells a true story of a man's journey
to make affordable sanitary napkins.
Starting with the poster in the shape of a sanitary napkin,
Radhika feels the film will help overcome the hesitation which surrounds a natural
process that a woman goes through every month.
'I think our country is very ashamed of sexuality, physicality,
or human body. Anything to do with human body or sexuality is a problem here,'
Radhika told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
Despite the critical acclaim coming her way aplenty, Radhika
has often been in news for being 'bold' in her films -- be it an intimate
scene with co-star Adil Hussain in 'Parched' being leaked online,
or a clip of a semi-nude Radhika from an Anurag Kashyap-directed short film
making its way on to the web.
The actress has never tried to sweep the matter under the rug,
and believes in talking about it instead of opting for silence.
'Yes, there is a whole thing of generations of being awkward
about things, but if you start taking a decision like 'Okay, I am not going
to feel like that', it will make a difference,' she said.
The actress said a natural process like menstruation should
be spoken about. 'It should not feel awkward touching the pad in front
of people. These are small things with which people have issues,' she said.
According to Radhika -- who is associated with sanitary napkin
brand Whisper India as an 'influencer', it is not only men who have
issues talking about it. 'Women also have issues about it. It is all a
part of society and upbringing, and it is high time we changed it,' she
said.
Filmmaker R. Balki has picked the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham
to narrate through 'Pad Man', with actors Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor
and Radhika in the lead roles.
'Pad Man' will chronicle how Muruganantham set out
on a mission to make affordable sanitary napkins after seeing his wife's ordeal
and poor menstrual hygiene, and was shunned by his own family and village.
More than the end result of finally succeeding in making affordable
sanitary napkins, it is the road that leads to it which makes for a compelling
tale.
From creating a fake uterus to test out his protype and raising
eyebrows in the village for washing bloodied clothes in public, to being ostracised
on the suspicion of having a sexual disease and being possessed by evil spirits
-- there are many facets to Muruganantham's story.
Ask Radhika about how his story is getting a Bollywood makeover,
and she says she is 'absolutely not' allowed to talk about it, but
things are heading in the right direction.
'All I can I say is that as you know it is about a pad
man and has a sanitary napkin on the poster. So there is a lot of scope for
imagination.
'I am very happy that something like this is being handled
at such a big level in Bollywood,' said Radhika, who hails from Pune and
lives in London with her husband Benedict Taylor.
Radhika entered the industry with a small role in the 2005
release 'Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!', and is known for films like 'Shor
in the City', 'Kabali', 'Phobia', 'Badlapur',
'Manjhi - The Mountain Man' and short film 'Ahalya'.
At the moment, all her focus is on 'Pad Man'.
New Delhi
Mar 23, 2017
Actress Radhika Apte, who has often been under the scanner
for her 'bold' approach in her films, says anything remotely associated
with human body can turn out to be a problem in India -- a country that is 'very
ashamed of sexuality and physicality'.
Sex and sexuality are not the only veiled topics of discussion
in the country.
Menstruation also finds a spot on the list, and Radhika is
happy that the topic is being handled in a 'big way' in her upcoming
Bollywood film 'Pad Man' -- which tells a true story of a man's journey
to make affordable sanitary napkins.
Starting with the poster in the shape of a sanitary napkin,
Radhika feels the film will help overcome the hesitation which surrounds a natural
process that a woman goes through every month.
'I think our country is very ashamed of sexuality, physicality,
or human body. Anything to do with human body or sexuality is a problem here,'
Radhika told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
Despite the critical acclaim coming her way aplenty, Radhika
has often been in news for being 'bold' in her films -- be it an intimate
scene with co-star Adil Hussain in 'Parched' being leaked online,
or a clip of a semi-nude Radhika from an Anurag Kashyap-directed short film
making its way on to the web.
The actress has never tried to sweep the matter under the rug,
and believes in talking about it instead of opting for silence.
'Yes, there is a whole thing of generations of being awkward
about things, but if you start taking a decision like 'Okay, I am not going
to feel like that', it will make a difference,' she said.
The actress said a natural process like menstruation should
be spoken about. 'It should not feel awkward touching the pad in front
of people. These are small things with which people have issues,' she said.
According to Radhika -- who is associated with sanitary napkin
brand Whisper India as an 'influencer', it is not only men who have
issues talking about it. 'Women also have issues about it. It is all a
part of society and upbringing, and it is high time we changed it,' she
said.
Filmmaker R. Balki has picked the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham
to narrate through 'Pad Man', with actors Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor
and Radhika in the lead roles.
'Pad Man' will chronicle how Muruganantham set out
on a mission to make affordable sanitary napkins after seeing his wife's ordeal
and poor menstrual hygiene, and was shunned by his own family and village.
More than the end result of finally succeeding in making affordable
sanitary napkins, it is the road that leads to it which makes for a compelling
tale.
From creating a fake uterus to test out his protype and raising
eyebrows in the village for washing bloodied clothes in public, to being ostracised
on the suspicion of having a sexual disease and being possessed by evil spirits
-- there are many facets to Muruganantham's story.
Ask Radhika about how his story is getting a Bollywood makeover,
and she says she is 'absolutely not' allowed to talk about it, but
things are heading in the right direction.
'All I can I say is that as you know it is about a pad
man and has a sanitary napkin on the poster. So there is a lot of scope for
imagination.
'I am very happy that something like this is being handled
at such a big level in Bollywood,' said Radhika, who hails from Pune and
lives in London with her husband Benedict Taylor.
Radhika entered the industry with a small role in the 2005
release 'Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!', and is known for films like 'Shor
in the City', 'Kabali', 'Phobia', 'Badlapur',
'Manjhi - The Mountain Man' and short film 'Ahalya'.
At the moment, all her focus is on 'Pad Man'.
Tags: Radhika ApteKabali (Hindi)BadlapurManjhi - The Mountain ManPad Man