Ekta Kapoor, the powerhouse producer and creative force behind some of India's most iconic television shows and films, made waves at the final panel discussion of FICCI Frames 2024 with her candid remarks on gender equality in the entertainment industry.
Addressing the audience, she shed light on the challenges of creating a gender agnostic working environment and the persistent male dominance in storytelling, particularly in movies.
Despite the strides made towards gender equality in the entertainment industry, Kapoor acknowledged the uphill battle faced by filmmakers advocating for women-centric stories. She cited her own experience with her upcoming film "Crew, starring Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon.
She said, “I am just making a film titled Crew, and there was so much love for the promo, and I cannot tell you the amount of people who told me that, who will watch a movie about three women. Had there been three heroes in the crew, the story would have been totally different. This mindset can only change by changing the commerce of it. Rhea Kapoor and I, as producers, are trying to change this with extreme dedication.”
“Because when the commerce changes, the kind of film changes, the lens changes, more women work, so I think it is give and take. While I think television and OTT have changed, films are still a tough challenge” added Ekta.
Helmed by Rajesh Krishnan, Crew stars Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh and Kapil Sharma. The film is set for theatrical release on 29 March 2024.