'I would like to be born as woman again' - Deepika Padukone"TO be honest, I have never really given a thought till now about why I am happy being a woman. This perhaps indicates that I do not think much about the great Man-Woman gender divide; and I feel I am equal to a man to begin with.
"I would say I am glad I'm a woman because I can be a daughter, a girlfriend, a wife, a mother, a career-woman, a homemaker. In a single lifetime, I get an opportunity to plays a range of real-life roles. I don't want to compare and delve into whether this is something a man can do or not. What is significant is that this is something that I find gratifying.
"What is exciting about being a woman is that she has the ability to simultaneously combine several roles. My mother (Ujjala) has always been my inspiration because she has beautifully balanced out both her worlds – the personal and the professional. She has supported my father (Prakash), my sister Anisha and me too. Apart from being a homemaker, my mother was also a professional. She was in the travel business but she made time for the family and kids despite her work. Before my sister and I were born, she provided an excellent support system to my father who had a career in sports. When I decided to take up the acting profession, she stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar.
"I, at least, faced no discrimination at home so I am very happy being born a woman. I was never treated badly by my parents because I was not a boy; and by the same token, I wasn't given special treatment because I was a girl. My parents gave me a comfortable lifestyle but I have not been pampered with luxuries; I have been brought up the right way. My parents allowed me to pursue my interest in arts, dance and music and, yes, they also encouraged my interest in sports.
"I am fortunate that I live in today's day and age, when a woman being the bread winner is not an unconventional idea. Today's women are equally responsible to take on the mantle of bread earners.
"Happily, for most women, the days are gone when we were not allowed to step put of the home. And thankfully, woman have the knack for adapting to new realities — when I step out of the house, I realise I am a responsible woman of today; and I know what I should be doing and what I shouldn't.
"I am proud of being a woman because women are more nurturing and giving, they are a lot more sensitive — think of Mother Teresa or the nurses in our hospitals. Women are far more emotional and more expressive than men. We don't keep our emotions bottled up — we laugh and cry easily.
"I can dress up elaborately — that's another privilege of being a woman; and I appreciate that to the fullest. But I'm not someone who enjoys spending hours before the mirror deciding on the dress for the day. I have no fixed style or look. When I am in a bad mood, dressing up might cheer me up.
"The advantage of being a woman in the modelling world is that I have heard female models often get paid more than their male counterparts. I think we deserve more because we are required to put in far more work vis a vis male models. We have to go though the process of fittings, elaborate make-up and hairstyling etc. By and large, the guys just have to do wear a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and walk. The women are the head-turners everywhere. God made us in a particular way so that a man would appreciate her.
"On a lighter note, I feel lucky about being a woman because I have a handsome and caring boyfriend like Ranbir, but on the occasion of Women's Day someone should ask him how he feels to have me by his side. And I must say I am glad I am an actress of today – times are changing and we have kept up with the times. If I want to play an action heroine and do my own stunts, I can!
"Today's Indian women may be far more liberated, more expressive and may have more opportunities than the women of yore. But it is to our gender's credit that we have the good sense to remain Indian at heart. We know our responsibilities, our priorities. We will always value people and emotions.
"I would like to be born as woman again, no doubt about it. And an actress for sure."
—Bollywood News Service
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