‘My Censor Board Is My Own Heart And Mind’ Says Pooja Bhatt

From producing a movie franchise like “Jism” to a film like “Cabaret”, actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has been redefining the image of women in Indian cinema since the 1990s. She says she will never project women in a vulgar manner while celebrating their sensuality and beauty. “Since I started as an actress in the film industry, I realised the power of visuals, and how that can fuel the imagination of our mind. It is very powerful. Therefore, I always cater to my own sensibility first and then to the world,” Pooja Bhatt said in an interview.

“My censor board is my own heart and mind. Our audience can say that the women in my films are bold or sensual, but never ever vulgar. I can never look at a female body, even if it is naked, in a vulgar manner,” added the daughter of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

On the projection of women in her films, the “Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin” actress said: “My gaze is very different from that of Ekta Kapoor’s and that is quite visible in those two films - ‘Ragini MMS 2’ and ‘Jism 2’.

“I am taking her example because she is successful and I have respect for her. Both the films are produced by women and Sunny (Leone) is the common actress in them. But the projection is very different.

“Perhaps that is why we both can look outside from the same window but see things differently. I don’t only cater a film to the male audience, but also the female audience. That’s why I also presented Randeep Hooda in a manner that I did in ‘Jism 2’.”

Pooja believes that more than showing skin on-screen, presentation of a character makes a woman more sensual.

“When I did movies back in the day, there was no nudity in those films, but even then how come people still found ‘Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee’ very sensual? Because it was the character I played and how I was presented by the filmmaker.”

Having made her acting debut in 1989 with “Daddy”, Pooja Bhatt gained popularity not only for her on-screen performance but also for her bold screen image as an actress. She also appeared on a magazine cover for which she painted her body. (IANS)

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