Bindu Claims Film Industry Biased Against Women Debutantes

Veteran actor Bindu, known for her roles in numerous Bollywood films from the 70s and 80s, recently shared her experiences of not receiving awards during the early years of her career. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the 82-year-old revealed that despite being nominated for nine Filmfare Awards, she had never won any. She recalled being denied the award for her debut film Do Raaste (1969) because she was a newcomer. However, she pointed out that the same logic was not applied when Jaya Bachchan was awarded for her debut film Guddi (1971).

Bindu expressed her disappointment at being denied the award for Do Raaste, even though she had received the highest number of votes from the jury. “This happens behind closed doors. I got to know that I had got the maximum votes, but still, they didn’t give me the award. This happened three to four times, and this has always happened at Filmfare,” she said. Bindu further shared that she was nominated for her performance in Dastaan but did not receive the award despite receiving votes.

The actor revealed that as a newcomer, she would have gained confidence had she won awards. “When an artiste is new in the industry and gets an award, the enthusiasm and happiness are of a different type only. It gives motivation. I would say give awards to budding artists to boost their confidence,” she said. Bindu’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the film industry, particularly in the past when newcomers were often overlooked in favor of established actors.

Bindu’s experiences highlight the importance of recognizing and encouraging new talent, particularly for women in the film industry who often face systemic bias and discrimination. While awards are not the only measure of success, they can play a significant role in boosting an artist’s confidence and motivation. It is crucial to ensure that all artists, regardless of gender or background, are given equal opportunities to showcase their talent and be recognized for their contributions to the industry.

–Re-reported from the story originally published in The Indian Express