Genelia D’Souza Addresses Bias Against Married Actresses in Bollywood
Genelia D’Souza's Return to Cinema
Genelia D’Souza is set to make her much-anticipated comeback in the film industry with Aamir Khan's upcoming project, Sitaare Zameen Par, where she portrays his on-screen spouse. The announcement of her role has generated excitement among fans and industry professionals. However, she has voiced her concerns regarding the bias against married actresses in Bollywood, stating that she auditioned for the film three times before securing the part.
Merit Over Luck
In a revealing interview with a media outlet, Genelia shared that while many congratulated her for landing a role in an Aamir Khan film, few recognized that her success was due to her talent rather than sheer luck. She remarked, 'When people learned I was cast in Sitaare Zameen Par, they exclaimed, ‘Oh my god! So lucky!’ I responded that it was Aamir sir's vision that led him to see potential in me. He made me audition, and others could do the same.'
Critique of Industry Norms
Genelia criticized the industry's tendency to overlook married women, stating, 'It seems that being married leads to assumptions about my suitability for certain roles. Filmmaking has evolved, and our mindset should too. If a character is meant to be a specific age, the casting should reflect that. Younger actors may not grasp the nuances of the role as well as someone closer in age.' She expressed hope that opportunities would be more equitably distributed.
Aamir Khan's Perspective
Recently, Aamir Khan addressed the age difference between him and Genelia in the film. He explained to a news channel, 'With advancements in VFX, age is no longer a limitation. In the past, portraying a younger character required heavy prosthetics, as seen with Anil Kapoor in Eeshwar. Now, visual effects allow actors to convincingly portray various ages on screen.'
About Sitaare Zameen Par
Sitaare Zameen Par is the Hindi remake of the Spanish film Campeones and serves as a spiritual sequel to the acclaimed Taare Zameen Par. Both Genelia and Aamir's characters are in their early 40s. The film is scheduled for release in theaters on June 20.