Speaking at a Women’s Day event in Chennai’s Jeppiaar Engineering College, actress and singer Andrea Jeremiah shared her views on the film industry and the much-needed change it requires.
“Firstly, the film industry is a male dominated industry. I have to say that. Basically, the point I am trying to make is that if anybody has to name the superstars, they will name Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan,” she said, amid loud cheers from the audience.
She further went on to talk about her own experience, especially after her film Taramani released last year.
“After Taramani, I am yet to sign a film. Because when a woman does a strong role, she asks uncomfortable questions and says ‘Hello, I am not happy to be a pretty young thing on screen. I want to do more than that. Yes, I can look hot and sexy and I can act, too’. So, write roles for me and don’t ask me to come on screen and jiggle my butt and wear revealing clothes and be happy with that,” she said.
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She further highlighted that in Bollywood, it took a whole lot of time for actresses like Deepika Padukone to establish themselves as big names in the industry. “Even Deepika Padukone had to do a film with Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor to become a Deepika Padukone. A Nayanthara has to do films with Vijay, Ajith, Suriya, Rajinikanth and then she becomes Nayanthara. Why can’t Andrea just do good strong roles and become an Andrea?” she said.
Andrea’s performance in Taramani, directed by Ram, was lauded despite the film being dubbed ‘too preachy’ or ‘trying too hard’. She has Vetrimaaran’s Vada Chennai in the pipeline, where she plays Chandra. She will also be reprising her role as Ashmita Subramaniam in Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2.
Watch the video of her speech here: