IEC 2022: Ekta Kapoor backs on-screen bahus Tulsi, Parvati’s ‘typical housewife’ portrayal, says ‘women found their voice through television’

Content czarina, entrepreneur, businesswoman, queen of soap operas, celebrated producer, mom, Padma Shri awardee are just a few big words associated with Ekta Kapoor. Ekta has changed the way we look at Indian television shows and movies. From Kyunki…Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to Veere Di Wedding, Ekta has backed a wide range of content that have been awarded on various platforms.

Ekta recently chatted with Padmaja Joshi at the 8^th India Economic Conclave leads along with Dr Sangeeta Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals where she spoke about women at work. Apart from speaking about how she understands working mothers better after welcoming her son, Ekta also spoke about her on-screen characters who have created a niche.

Ekta also went on to reveal that her on-screen characters like Tulsi from Kyunki.. Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Parvati from Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki were extremely relatable.

"You just know half the population is women and you can’t cater to just men. When we started television, everyone was shocked that it was all about Tulsi, and Parvati and while a lot of people thought that it was about a woman who is dressing up and looked her best. But actually, a lot of research that was carried out at that time, social research aid that women started participating in their home activities after that, a lot of our heroines were wearing sarees, extremely relatable and aspirational, wearing the saree like a typical housewife, in the most degrading term as they put it, she wore jewellery, looked her best, which is aspirational, and which they would put it, she had the same issue that most women had”

Ekta further elaborated that it may not be an issue in every house, but kitchen politics is a reality that women identify with and they found a medium that they could easily relate to.

The theme for this talk at the 8^th edition of Times Network’s flagship annual event India Economic Conclave (IEC) 2022 was ‘Women Empowerment At The Workplace’ where Ekta and Dr Sangeeta also spoke about opening creche for working mothers, extended maternity leaves as well as paternity leaves for fathers to share the ‘responsibility’ and not the ‘burden’.