Mumbai, Feb 15 : Actress Mahie Gill who has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party recently and also played a politician on-screen in the recently released web series ‘Raktanchal 2’ says encountering the real situation as a politician is very different from acting then in films and series.
Asked about her new career choice as a politician and Mahie told IANS: “Firstly it is just a coincidence that in ‘Raktanchal 2’ I played a politician and in reality also I joined politics.The timing was not quite planned.But I must say that when an actress becomes a politician, people’s attitude changes and not always fame helps to influence people to change their minds.
”Same people who love me for my acting, not necessarily love and support me as a politician.Initially, people are interested to come and meet me for selfies and the fact that they are meeting an actress.So I would say that playing a politician on-screen and meeting real people and real issues as a politician is very different and rather tougher.”
In the show she plays the character named Saraswati Devi and the story is set in the ’90s era.
Drawing the similarity from the story of the show and the present time in Indian politics, Mahie said, ” when it comes to the show, I was excited to play Saraswati Devi because of the very fact that the story was set in the 90s era and I never played a politician in my career before.Back in the day, female representation in Indian politics in higher positions was quite a power struggle.”
“Politics is mostly a male-dominated space where it was looked at almost like an insult for a man to take orders from a woman leader and follow her.Of course, now things have changed but still, female politicians with powerful profiles are underrepresented.Even now, only 10 per cent of our female population gets everything including higher education, high profile job because the mindset needs to be changed from home.Post marriage, their husbands also discourage women to remain ambitious.So no matter how much we talk about gender equality, we need to sensitise parents also to start the equality from home.”Considering the fact that in the recent time the question is raised on the preference of religious identity over the right to education for girls when the controversy over wearing Hijab in school of Karnataka started, asked about her opinion on the matter, Mahie said, ” Well, the matter is in court so I do not want to comment on it.Also, it is a highly sensitive topic and as a politician, I refuse to make any irresponsible comments.Let the verdict come out.”‘Raktanchal 2’ is streaming on MX Player.aru/kr
“Politics is largely a male-dominated area in which it was seen as an insult males to take instructions from a female leader and to follow her.Of course, things have changed, but female politicians with prominent profiles aren’t as prevalent.Even today only 10 percent of our female population has access to everything from the highest education and a prominent job, and a career because the mindset has to be changed from the home.
After marriage, their spouses can also dissuade women to be ambitious.So , no whatever we say about equality between men and women, it is important to educate parents to ensure equality starts at the comfort of their homes.”Considering the fact that in the last few months, the issue of the importance of religious beliefs over girls’ right to education.When the controversy surrounding wearing Hijab in the schools of Karnataka began, and inquired about her thoughts on the issue, Mahie said, ” It’s a matter that’s in the courts, therefore I am not able to discuss the issue.
It is also an extremely sensitive subject and as an elected official, I am not going to make any untruthful remarks.Let the verdict be known.”‘Raktanchal 2′” is available on MX Player.
