If there is one thing that almost all Indian’s get influenced by in some way or the other, it is Bollywood. Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we have dived into our archives to find quotes by the leading ladies of Bollywood on things that matter. Be it beauty standards, pay disparity, being ambitious, motherhood, or simply the choices one makes, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan say things that’ll surely inspire you and help you navigate in a society that has for years been male dominated. Hear from your favourites…
Kareena Kapoor Khan on taking it easy post 40
“In a journey of 20 years, if you’ve not matured as a person and as an artiste, you’ve not learnt anything. I started at the age of 17. Ek alag si energy hoti hai at that time. You’re like listen I can do anything. But, today I’m 40 and I’m like… I can’t. I’m in Zen mode. I just want to do my work. Even if I do one film at a time, I’ll give my best to that. But at 17, you want to be in every film and just kill it. The fire is still there but the flames were a lot higher at that time.”
Priyanka Chopra Jonas on being looked down for being ambitious
“I’m destiny’s favourite child and I believe that. I believe there’s a hand on my head, which guides me in the right direction. What I do is that I recognise opportunity. Not all have that ability. It might not bang on your door, it might just walk past you. But you should be able to make something out of it. That’s called being ambitious! And I’m proudly ambitious. Sadly, ambition has become a bad word! People say, ‘Haye woh badi ambitious hai!’”
Deepika Padukone on pay disparity
“Especially, when wage disparity has been such an important conversation, I’m glad it’s finally come to the fore. I’m also proud of it because I’ve earned it, not demanded it. It’s backed by the work I’ve put in over the years. Even if I’d demanded it, nobody is a fool to pay you that kind of money for no reason. Where bridging the wage disparity between actors and actresses is concerned, we still have a long way to go. But this is definitely a landmark moment.”
Anushka Sharma on motherhood
“I would pick motherhood over my career. People are saying that we believe in feministic ideology and I’m saying that I do too. But you cannot say that choosing your career is being feminist and choosing motherhood isn’t. That’s wrong. The ability to choose is called being liberated.”
Alia Bhatt on being emotional
“A 20-somethng shouldn’t believe she’s a poster girl of pure positivity and constant joy. That’s something I don’t want to put out there. I’m not a negative person. But I’ve a lot of doubts. I have confidence issues sometimes. And I’m not always smiling. I’m not always calm. I get stressed out. I get scared. That’s an important emotion that one should feel. I feel my emotions fully. Like even if I’ve got a pimple, I’ll cry.”
See Also: Alia Bhatt’s family reacts to pictures of Alia and Ranbir Kapoor’s supposed wedding card
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