Generally, a personality doesn’t go away an actor lengthy after the movie is over, dwelling inside them as a trigger. For Vidya Balan, Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016) can be one such film. Since main the thriller that depicted her as a survivor of kid sexual abuse, the actor has been concerned with the non-profit organisation Arpan to lift consciousness concerning the subject and the POCSO (Safety of Kids from Sexual Offences) Act. This yr, she leads its marketing campaign, POCSO Pakad Lega.
“Arpan instituted the Youngster Security Week in 2019. Slowly, this initiative has been rising by way of visibility. Once they approached me to lend my voice to the marketing campaign this yr, I used to be very happy. It was one other step ahead in the appropriate course,” Balan tells mid-day.
Vidya Balan performed a survivor of kid sexual abuse in ‘Kahaani 2’
Given their affect, it’s not shocking that stars are wanted to champion social causes. Ought to in addition they prolong this duty to the display, by being acutely aware concerning the politics of the tales? Balan, who has constructed her profession round progressive films, says, “I received’t place the onus of social duty on artistes alone as a result of as we speak greater than ever, peculiar residents are utilizing their voice. It’s great when a preferred superstar leverages their stardom to convey visibility to a trigger. However I feel it’s everybody’s duty to concentrate on gender politics, of their very own double requirements and misogyny earlier than pointing fingers at others. At this time, everyone seems to be on the market expressing their opinions, discovering faults with one another. However they need to dwell by instance moderately than simply being armchair activists.”
In her 20-year profession, the actor has seen modifications, each good and unhealthy. She notes that there’s extra scope to inform tales about uncomfortable truths as we speak. The flipside? That it has no place on the large display. “I feel individuals wish to neglect about real-life points after they go to theatres. However now we have to maintain telling our tales in no matter approach doable. The place economics is concerned, [telling them] will get a bit powerful. However because of OTT as we speak, there’s extra scope to inform all types of tales.”