Kitu Gidwani on Bollywood: Actress Raises Concerns Over Royalties and Lack of Strong Roles for Older Women

Veteran actress Kitu Gidwani, who has had an acting career spanning over four decades on screen, has raised concerns regarding the treatment of actors in the Bollywood industry. She has expressed worries about royalty issues and the roles given to women as they grow older.

Speaking to Screen, Kitu termed the Bollywood industry as a fake industry as it runs on its own vague regulations. In her statement, she has compared the Indian entertainment industry with Western entertainment industries, saying that the industry fails to appreciate artists.

Kitu also spoke about the lack of strong and diverse roles for older women in the entertainment industry. She said, "My complaint with the industry is that older women aren't getting strong roles. We don't want to play the typical mother or aunt. We want to play good, memorable roles with love, power, comedy, and action."

She also criticized the way women are portrayed in television serials, saying, "In daily soaps, as soon as a woman turns 30, she becomes a grandmother. There are no signs of aging on her face, yet she still gets such roles. This industry is very strange."

Kitu said, "Bollywood isn't a real industry; it's a cottage industry. It's a fake industry; it operates by its own vague rules. There's nothing like Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild in India. After working for 10 years, I should have been able to live off my royalties for the next 10 years, not have to work hard for 40."

Kitu entered the world of cinema in 1984 with the film "Holi." Her role in the TV series "Air Hostess," which aired on Doordarshan in 1986, brought her tremendous success. Kitu has also received critical acclaim for her performances in films such as "Dance of the Wind" (1997), "Earth" (1998), "Rukhmavati Ki Haveli" (1991), "Fashion," "Abhay," "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na," and "Deham" (2001).