The much-in-demand actor Akshay Kumar has delivered another hit in the form of Pad Man. His latest movie has garnered an overwhelming response from various corners. However, there is a section of the audience which has not received the film with open arms simply because it deals with an issue which they feel is taboo and hence not worth talking about. In his recent interaction with us, Akshay talks about the success of Pad Man, why everyone should watch the film and why box office clashes cannot be avoided in Bollywood.
What kind of response are you getting for your latest release, Pad Man?
The movie has been loved by critics, but there are still certain people who are hesitating to go and watch it. I have noticed that some men are not allowing their wives to go and watch the movie, while the whole purpose of making this movie is to break that taboo, to tell that there is nothing wrong in periods. The movie was made with the intention that women would go and watch it with their family, and males should, especially, go and watch it so that they know that there is nothing wrong to talk about it (menstruation).
Now that the film has released and appreciated by many people, how would you like to carry on with the awareness about the issue it deals with?
We are going to open, across many state transport stands in Maharashtra, vending machines with sanitary pads. I am going to keep on doing this and I want to request that media should write about it more often and create awareness. You guys writing about it can change a lot in India.
Do you think that Bollywood is finally ready to touch upon topics that could create awareness?
Awareness can happen and people are slowly accepting it. I mean the topic of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is much easier to accept than that of the sanitary pads. That is why I called you guys because still in some corners, villages and cities men are not letting their wives or daughter or sister go and watch the movie.
Are you or other members of the cast planning to speak about the issue at hand at villages?
There is no point in speaking to anybody; nobody is interested in hearing speeches. They are not interested in listening to actors. They would come and watch the actor and then leave but what the actor says does not matter. When they see a movie they pick up things because entertainment is the best way of picking up things. There is a hero, there is a heroine, they are singing songs, hero beats up the villain, he does something for the heroine and then they think that they could also do this.
What do you have to say about the ban of the film in Pakistan?
I can just request them to allow people to watch the film there. It talks about an important subject and there is nothing wrong with this film as it is a very pure subject. So, I hope they consider my request and allow the movie to get released, and I am sure one day it will happen there.
Do you think you have done your bit to create awareness around menstruation?
Yeah, I am trying my bit and this is not the end of it. I am going to keep on trying. This is not a movie for me, I actually felt it. I felt it two years back. I didn’t know anything back then. I never even held a pad in my hand. It was just two years back that I held it for the first time.
What was your inspiration for making this movie?
The number, the fact, the figures that 82% women in India don’t use pads for reasons like they don’t have money, they don’t know about it, nobody has introduced it to them, nobody talks about it, it’s taboo, they are not allowed in temple, not allowed to be in kitchen, they are asked to sleep outside and this is unbelievable. While shooting, I was so shocked when one local guy, who had to hold a pad in his hand for a shot, ran away. When we called him and asked the reason, he answered that where he is from they don’t touch sin. So this is the kind of mindset they have and all we can do is break it. By the grace of God, this movie has succeeded in a lot of places.
Are the women around you now open enough to talk to you about it?
They were always open about it but I was shy then. I realised it two years back and now I am open to it. Somebody has to push or wake the person up, somebody has to show, somebody has to tell you. My parents didn’t tell me and I am sure a lot of parents don’t talk about it but my wife and I are open about it with our children. My son knows about it, there is nothing hidden about it, it is a natural thing and now his mind is open. The problem is that we hide this stuff. If periods come we shush it up and say not to tell anybody. Then the girl thinks that she should hide it because it is something to be ashamed of.
What is Pad Man for you?
This is a love story. For me, it is the biggest love story, much bigger than even Toilet: Ek Prem Katha because the guy did it for his wife’s hygiene. He cared so much about his wife that he not only made a pad but also a pad machine and now he has given this machine to around 4600 villages, which means he must have helped so many women.
Do you think subjects like this should be included in the education system?
Yes, it should be and I heard there is sex education provided in some of the schools but never about menstruation and if they are taught I have realised that it’s only for the girls. That is the worst part, you are excluding the boys. They should also learn about it; they should also know what the girl is going through. No wonder boys tease the girl which sometimes leads to horrible cases of suicides. They should not be excluded. It should be boys and girls together talking about menstruation.
How has this movie helped you evolve as an actor?
As a human being, it has impacted me. I don’t know about the acting part. I do films for the cause of it not for the acting part of it.
Big movies clashing at the box office, without any doubt, affects the business. Some people think Bollywood needs to have a calendar. Do you feel the same?
Clashes are going to happen, there are going to be two or three movies coming together because there are 180 films but there are only 52 weeks. So at the end, you have to come together.
Director R. Balki was awarded the Raj Kapoor Memorial Award recently. Could you comment on that?
It’s great and he is the guy who should be getting something like this because of the kind of movies he has made. A very out of the box kind of movies he makes. I am very happy.
Do you think that the success of a movie is defined by its box office numbers?
No, for me the most important is that the movie should go on. We are meeting today so that people can know and they can go and watch it. I am happy that the World Bank is showing it for free of cost. I am really happy. The whole answer is that everybody should watch this film, it’s an important film. Maybe after one year, we can meet and the figure of 82%, if even dropped only by 10%, we will have a party.
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