Daily sexism: Asking Kiara Advani’s marriage plans hints at larger malaise

Kiara Advani was with her co-stars Varun Dhawan, Neetu Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor, for the release of the trailer of ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’. The cast of the Raj Mehta-directed movie was asked various questions, and Advani was quizzed about her plans to marry and be “well-settled”. 

The actor, who’s been romantically linked to Sidharth Malhotra, replied “Without marriage, I can be well settled, right? I am well settled. I am doing work. I am earning and I am happy”, DNA reported. 

Another reporter hinted that the 29-year-old is likely to get married in a couple of years, at which Dhawan bristled and asked if the reporter’s parents had gone with a proposal of marriage. Upon receiving an answer in the negative, the 35-year-old replied that one shouldn’t be making assumptions in that case. 

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At the same event, Karan Johar, who has produced the movie, was asked about his thoughts on regional movies like ‘RRR‘ and ‘KGF Chapter 2‘ overtaking Bollywood. 

This disparity is not new in the industry, where female actors have often faced personal and intrusive questions from the press. However, much like Advani, Bollywood actors have learnt to give befitting replies to such queries and objectifying tactics. 

When Anushka Sharma was asked whether she’d give up her career, during the release of ‘Sultan’, the actor replied “What is the point of this question? Why is it even being asked? Strangely, only a girl is asked these questions which I think is extremely sexist. Why is that even an option? Why should anyone think that just because you are in a relationship you have to give up your career? If people need to ask about it, there’s a primary problem”. 

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Sharma, who has a child with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, has balanced motherhood along with a rather impressive move into film production.

Similarly, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who’s chosen to be vocal about a lot of issues, stood up for Meghan Markle on the ‘Wendy Williams Show.’ When the ‘Suits’ actor was referred to as “Prince Harry’s girlfriend”, the Bollywood actor chimed in “Also Meghan Markle… [has her own] achievements… Just saying!”. 

Another example which stands out is Deepika Padukone, who shut down a journalist’s insinuation that her husband – Ranveer Singh -took care of expenses when the ‘Gehraiyaan’ actor wanted to try her hand at production in ‘Chhapaak’. Padukone replied, “Excuse me! Yeh kisne bola?! Yeh mere khud ke paise hain, excuse me! Meri mehnat hai! (Excuse me! Who told you that? This is my own money, excuse me! My hard work!)”. 

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While men in Bollywood are asked career-oriented questions or entreated to share their opinions about the industry, women are still subjected to questions that cross lines of privacy. It is only with time and sensitization that a solution for the industry’s underlying sexism will emerge.