Nandita Das – People don’t take a stand in Bollywood

Actress Nandita Das feels people in Bollywood still shy away from voicing opinion on certain topics while celebrities in Hollywood talk about their films and the issues in the same breath.

“I think it’s a real pity in our industry that most people don’t like to talk about things, thinking it might jeopardise their career or they don’t want to be political. Whereas in Hollywood, people talk about the Paris bombing and about their film in the same breath. It’s really commendable,” she said on the sidelines of “Women in the World Summit”.

Nandita, 46, said people in the film industry consider her as more of a social activist than a performer.

“In film world, people considers me as an activist and in activists field, I am considered as an actor. I think this perception about me has come due to the kind of films I do,” she said.

The actress said she joined the film industry not to have an illustrious career in showbiz but to bring out the grave issues of the society.

“People still ask me how could I do a bold film like ‘Fire’ as my first film. I also did ‘Firaaq’ because I really wanted to talk about the issues it dealt with. For me, these are not the careers and profession, they still remain an interest,” she added.

Nandita said she became an actress by chance.

“I completed my masters in social work when I was approached for Fire. I had no desire to work. I had no idea about acting and I just did plays. I had no picture portfolio with me when I had gone to meet Deepa Mehta. But when she narrated the script to me, I was game for it,” she said.

The film, which talked about the same-sex relationship, had many bold scenes between her and veteran actress Shabana Azmi.

“I am still asked who is a better kisser between Shabana and Rahul Khanna… Shabana was my first on screen love interest.”

Inputs by PTI