Meghna Ghai Puri
Nisha Samson |
Mar 07, 2007
Meghna has a BSc degree in business management from Kings College, University of London and an advanced diploma in Communications, Marketing and Advertising.She has taken 'Whistling Woods' forward on the business development and international alliances front.
What is your advise to the many Bollywood hopefuls?The Indian media industry is like any flourishing industry today. It is growing very well and very fast. I believe that if an individual has the talent, she must first recognise it. Hard work and dedication are essential to make it in this Industry.
The industry looks glamorous from the outside, but actually it is like working in drastic weather conditions - from erratic timings and tremendous stress. You have to know exactly what you want to do here and love what you are doing to survive.
How difficult is it for an individual with a non-film background to get a break in Bollywood?
As history knows, star kids have a slight advantage over people with non-film backgrounds. Except for the advantage, I won’t say it is easy for film kids to get in. And this happens in Hollywood too!
For those who come from film backgrounds, their training in film starts early. They grow up with established film parents and hence know how the industry functions and what is required of them. Take me for example – my main advantage is the fact that I grew up watching my father as an integral part of the industry.
Those without film backgrounds require training and the platform to be successful in this Industry. My father came from a non-film background, so his best option was to chose the training route and then enter the industry. He still believes that his two years of training is the main factor for his long-standing success.
Ultimately, if you have the talent and are passionate about what you do, there are enough opportunities for everyone.
How does one handle the casting couch?
I have never personally experienced or known anyone who has gone through such an experience. But I am sure the casting couch is not limited only to Bollywood. Yes, it may be highlighted more because it is a glamorous field, but that does not mean it does not exist elsewhere.
It all depends on each person and on how far they are willing to go. No one is forced! There are two routes to everything in life – either you climb the stairs or take the elevator. When you are climbing stairs, you have the time to read your material and learn. Take the elevator and you might miss out on the learning experiences.
A female lead is as important as the male. Yet, why does she play the second lead often?
Yes, culturally we mostly have male protagonists, but women certainly play an important role in our stories and films. Our movies are largely from the male perspective because we, unfortunately, have a male dominated industry!
We also do make a women oriented films. Films such as Dor, Parineeta, Gangster, Murder and Woh Lamhe are all films from a woman’s perspective. Women audiences are certainly important to us. Even in a film like Iqbal - about cricket and with a male protagonist - the emotions go out to the sister and the mother.
What can the film fraternity do to make women centric films more accepting?
It comes down to determining the viability of any film. Producers must look at catering to the largest audience to recover their costs and make profits. All big film industries in the world are star centric – so the bigger the star, the more you can bank on them.
When Sridevi and Madhuri were at their peak we saw films such as Chaalbaaz, Chandini, Dil and Beta. Even now, we have had movies such as Kya Kehna with Preity Zinta and Black with Rani Mukherjee.
I personally encourage all women who have the talent to join the media industry in all fields - be it production, direction, editing and others - which are historically known to be male careers! Today, there is no such distinction; the more women join the industry, the more women oriented films we will see!
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