Manisha Koirala on sexism in Bollywood during 90s: Heroes could have many girlfriends, they were called as Macho man

Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala, a celebrated actress known for her impactful performances in Bollywood, recently opened up about the sexism she faced in the industry during the 90s. In a candid interview, she revealed the stark double standards that existed for male and female actors at the time. This discourse is especially relevant as it sheds light on the gender biases that have historically plagued the film industry.

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Reflecting on her experiences, Manisha Koirala recalled how she was asked not to reveal that she drank alcohol or had a boyfriend. "Just because I have a personal life or I have a boyfriend doesn't mean I am going to be unprofessional in my life," she asserted.

 
Koirala's recollections bring to light the prevailing norms of the 90s, where heroes could have multiple girlfriends and were often celebrated as "macho men." In contrast, actresses were expected to adhere to a different set of standards. "I faced some flak for it because in those days, the heroes could have many girlfriends, and they were called macho men, but the actress was supposed to be this, 'no no no, nobody is touching me' and 'we are very untouched,'" she explained.

The actress also spoke about the pressure to conform to certain behaviors and appearances. Recalling an incident from the time of her film Saudagar, she shared how she was told to say she was drinking coke instead of vodka. "I was told to say that I'm drinking coke. I learnt that new thing. I told my mom, 'I am drinking coke,' and she knew I put vodka in it and she said, 'Listen, if you are drinking vodka, say you are drinking vodka, don't say you are drinking coke, don't lie for such small little things,'" Koirala recounted.

The societal pressure was immense, and any deviation from the expected norms was met with judgment. "If I was dating somebody, I am dating somebody. You want to judge me? Go ahead and judge me but that's me, this is me and I lead my life on my own terms," Koirala asserted.

Koirala's candid reflections also touch upon the broader issue of sexism in the film industry. The actress pointed out that there was a very warped value system for actresses, which did not sit well with her. "We had some very warped value system for actresses, which didn't go well with me," she said.

In addition to discussing sexism, Koirala also spoke about her journey in the film industry, especially her recent work in the Netflix series Heeramandi. During the promotions of the series, she reflected on her career, her battle with cancer, and her collaboration with renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after 28 years. "When I was offered this project, I was in Nepal, gardening and I was really thrilled. I waited for such a long time. It took 28 years of waiting and finally Sanjay came with a good project and I told him, 'Sanjay don't take another 28 years to offer me another good one,'" she shared.

Koirala's admiration for Bhansali's work is evident as she expressed her joy at being part of his project. "I have seen his movies after Khamoshi. So much pleasure and joy it gives me to see his career graph and one after the other brilliant film he has made. At this age and stage in my life when I was offered this, I was really thrilled," she said.

Manisha Koirala's insights not only highlight the challenges faced by actresses in the past but also underscore the progress that still needs to be made in addressing gender biases in the film industry.