Mouni Roy: Dashami is a mixed feeling as you bid Durga Maa goodbye | Hindi Movie News – Times of India


This is one festival that Mouni Roy eagerly awaits, however, this year the actress has missed most of the celebrations due to her shooting schedule. Amid work, she managed to make a quick visit to a pandal for pujo. Bombay Times captured her at Kumar Sanu’s MBCA Durga Puja in Mumbai. In a conversation with BT, she spoke about celebrating the power of women on Dussehra and her childhood memories of the festival. Excerpts:
Among the festive days of Durga puja, what makes Dashami (Dussehra) special for you?
The two most important days for me during pujo are the Maha Ashtami day and the Bijoya Dashami (Dussehra). On these two days, the celebrations and the energies are at their peak. It’s a mixed feeling on Dussehra because you prepare for Durga pujo for months, and then, on this day you bid Durga maa goodbye. As kids, I remember we used to wake up early, get ready in our white and red saris and head for sindoor khela. We would see women putting sindoor on each other’s foreheads, cheeks and their shakha pola (white and red bangles that married Bengali women wear).
Dusshera symbolises conquering good over evil. Women have to overcome various battles at every stage – be it gender bias (at home and workplace), eve teasing or lack of equal opportunities. What are your thoughts about women constantly looking within them and finding the power to fight against these?
It’s sad that women face these evils even today, but I think we are moving towards a world where women can command and demand equality. I come from a small town (Cooch Behar, West Bengal) and I have studied in Delhi. So, I have seen everything very closely, and I feel it is important that all men have the knowledge and wisdom to treat women as equals with respect in our day-to-day life and even at workspaces. In terms of our (movie) industry, times have changed a lot. We make many women-centric films today, and some of the biggest global superstars are Indian women. It’s moving in the right direction. But many things come into play when you talk about equality at work, like the films that are mounted on male superstars or heroes… I think everything is equivalent to the number of days that you work and what’s your part in the film. So, there are a lot of metrics at play. I hope and pray to see equality soon, but I don’t see that happening in the near future, but we are definitely taking the right steps.

Mouni Roy offers prayers at a Durga puja Pandal

The festival celebrates the power of women. Who are the women in your life who have been a source of strength and inspiration?
I could go on and on about this because I am surrounded by women. My mom, aunts and other women are supremely intelligent… some of them are doctors, engineers and teachers. I grew up in a household that’s academically oriented, and we were always taught to be independent and to stand on our own feet. To have your individuality and be emotionally and financially independent is something I have been taught by my father and all the women around me. Now that I am working in Mumbai, I see my manager, stylists, and other team members around me, who are all hardworking women.
‘Sindoor Khela is about women celebrating each other’s strength’
Since I’ve been married, I have always worked on Dussehra. So, I haven’t really been able to participate in sindoor khela. I believe that it signifies power, purity, courage and strength. Red is a very strong colour. Sindoor khela is where women celebrate each other’s strength and happiness. I hope I get to be a part of it next year. Suraj (Nambiar, her husband) is equally involved in the festivities. Last year, he came to Mumbai, and we did the puja and ate bhog together. Unfortunately, this year, he is not in the country.





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