Javed Akhtar compares Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi to legendary icons Nargis and Nutan, highlights changing roles in Bollywood
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Madhuri Dixit and late actress Sridevi ruled the Hindi film industry during the 90s. Both were contemporaries and have given Bollywood multiple iconic films as well as dance numbers. Screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has now spoken about the actresses saying they did not get powerful roles in the films compared to what late legendary actresses Meena Kumari and Nargis did. He also talked about the changing image of a hero and how it impacted storytelling on the big screens.
Javed Akhtar on Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit's career
In an interview with NDTV, Javed Akhtar said, "Look at these girls, Madhuri and Sridevi. They were not less talented than Meena Kumari, Nargis and Madhubala. Sorry. They were as talented as these great actresses." He went on to ask, "But did they get a good role in their whole career? Larger-than-life Meena Kumari had Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) and Pakeezah (1972); Nargis had Mother India (1957); Nutan had Bandini (1963) and Sujata (1959)."
The screenwriter also talked about the Golden Age of cinema, when female actors played as important roles as male actors. He said that they had layered characters, which was not in the case of female actors in the years to come. He asked, “Kaunsa memorable role aapne Sridevi ko ya Madhuri ko diya? Is liye nahi ki aapki unse kuch dushmani thi (Which memorable role did filmmakers offer Sridevi or Madhuri? Not because they were against Sridevi or Madhuri), you did not have great roles."
He also reflected that great roles were not given when Meena Kumari was around, the 1962 film 'Main Chup Rahungi' was the virtue and not it is not. He then asked, "What is the virtue?" He went on to say, "People are not clear. When in the 70s, a young man stood up against the establishment that was the virtue. Is it a virtue today to go to the jail? You don't know, you will find that kind of attitude suicidal.”
Meanwhile, Javed Akhtar was recently seen in the docu-series 'Angry Young Man'. The series showcases the iconic story of the legendary duo Salim-Javed who have delivered blockbuster films including Sholay, Zanjeer, Seeta Aur Geeta, and Don among others. Co-produced by Salman Khan Films, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti's Tiger Baby Films, and Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, the series premiered on August 20 on Amazon Prime Video.
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