Divya
BJP MP and veteran actress Hema Malini also commented on the current issue of alleged ‘drugs abuse’ in Bollywood.
The actress says that Bollywood will ‘always remain in high esteem’ and no one can just bring Bollywood down in a flash.
The 71-year-old actress turned politician spoke to NDTV the same day her co-actress Jaya Bachchan, also turned politician, spoke in parliament against what she called attempts to vilify the film industry with allegations of drug abuse related to the Sushant Singh Rajput death investigation.
Jaya Bachchan had a lot to say, including this, “Just because of a few people, you cannot tarnish the whole industry… Jis thaali me khaate hain usi me chched karte hain.” Supporting Bachchan’s comments, Hema Malini also gives us her point of view.
In defence of the film industry, Malini said, “I got name, fame, respect, everything from this industry… it feels really hurtful. I want to tell people, Bollywood beautiful place, a creative world, it is an art and culture industry… I feel very hurt when I hear people talking so bad about it, about drugs and things like that…Where doesn’t it happen? But if there is a stain, you wash it off and it goes. The stain on Bollywood will also go,” Malini says.
She especially agrees with Jayaji’s statement saying, “You cannot tarnish the image of Bollywood. These are small instances, like a stain on a piece of cloth we must wash it away. I have received a lot of love from this industry, how can I watch anyone say anything bad about it?“
“So many great artistes… matinee idols were gods in human form. People used to wonder whether they were artistes or God. Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Dharmendra (Hema Malini’s husband), Amit-ji (Amitabh Bachchan) – they are all examples of Bollywood luminaries who made Bollywood synonymous with everything Indian. Bollywood is India. I can’t take it when they ridicule our industry like this.“
The actress also adds on to her comments saying even if the accused instances occurred, it doesn’t mean the entire industry is bad.
Tackling allegations of nepotism, which has been in the middle of a raging debate since actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai home on June 14, Hema Malini said, “If somebody’s son or daughter joins the industry, it is not a given that they become superstars. Talent and luck matters.“
Bollywood, she said, could not be tarnished by a small stain. “So many contributed to this industry – Hrisihkesh Mukherjee, Bimal Roy, Gulzar, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai…You cannot pull down the industry in one minute.“
