Experts Discuss Lack of Female Representation in Bollywood's Eid Releases

As Eid approaches, Bollywood prepares for another round of blockbuster releases. Salman Khan's latest film, "Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan," is set to hit the screens on the festival date. However, the question remains: why is Eid's Bollywood lineup dominated by male actors? What about the talented female stars?

According to producer and film business expert Girish Johar, the box office traditionally favours male-dominated content, especially during festive releases. While female-led films do exist, they are usually secondary and rely more on word-of-mouth and content. Johar adds that male-driven, action-heavy content typically performs better at the box office, and female action films have only managed to do average business so far.

Lack of bankable female stars limiting opportunities for female-led films

Johar notes that festive weekends such as Eid are dominated by male heroes and superstars. Salman Khan is a prime example of this, having released several successful films during Eid, including "Dabangg" and "Bodyguard." Similarly, Aamir Khan dominates the Christmas weekend, while Diwali sees the release of films from various big stars. Johar believes that female heroes lack the ability to draw in the same crowds and do not have content that can match the scale and cost of male-driven films.

Film distributor and expert Akshaye Rathi disagrees, saying that the Eid box office success is not related to gender but rather to who can draw the biggest crowds. Rathi hopes that the industry will have more "bankable-at-the-box-office" female stars in the future. He believes that leading actresses have the potential to draw in big audiences if they make the right choices and select the right films.

Hope for a more inclusive industry with opportunities for female-led films

While some female stars, such as Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra, have attempted to be box office draws, they have not achieved the same success as their male counterparts. Rathi hopes that more female stars will step up and take on big, meaty roles that can compete with male-driven films.

In conclusion, the lack of female representation in Bollywood's Eid releases is a complex issue that involves both traditional box office dynamics and the need for more bankable female stars. Only time will tell if the industry will become more inclusive and give female-led films the same opportunities as their male-led counterparts.

- PTC PUNJABI