The Popular Mind | #Alt-Imagination: The Radical & the Regressive. Interpreting love, desire & ambition in India

Mumbai, 21^st September, 2019: On a high from the success of her latest film Dream Girl, Ekta Kapoor was frank as she answered questions about her 3am meetings (They still happen as she spends time with her son in the mornings), her regressive shows (she revels every kind of entertainment was her defence and nobody watches the progressive ones she makes) and being a parent (she's learning on the job). Kapoor, who is taking brain mapping classes lately, spoke at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2019 of how she's now more focused on the process and not as obsessive about the outcome as she was earlier. There were a few revelations too about the multi-tasking woman. She reads nine scripts a day, wears 14 rings and has 97 shows in development for her digital platform AltBalaji.  Needless to say there's no one quite like Ekta Kapoor in show business. 

Takeaways

India is obsessed with sex

And Ekta Kapoor isn’t complaining. It’s evident how people choose to talk about her AltBalaji show Gandi Baat more than anything else. “I never encourage misogyny on my show. I always encourage sex,” said Kapoor in one of the her many bold declarations

Embrace your flaws

The new Ekta Kapoor has decided to “accept her imperfections” and is trying to have at least one imperfection in the heroines of her TV shows.

Say no to misogyny

There are plenty of critics of her saas-bahu shows but Kapoor reminded audiences that it’s the women who always have a "voice" be it the heroine or the vamp.

Reaching out to the masses and the classes

From Kyunki Saash Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to Lipstick Under My Burkha, Ekta intends to appeal to all.  “I respect the woman in a saree as much as I do one in a swimsuit.”

QUOTES

Off with the pressure, on with the alcohol

(While talking about the Blue Label that was stocked for Ekta’s marriage was recently used to ring in her father Jeetendra’s birthday.)

I used to be a human. Now I am a folklore.

(On the many conspiracy theories around her work process and personality which includes meetings laden with abuses and flying objects)

I am not going to feed him a fairytale.

(On how she is raising her son.)

For further info and registration, delegates can log on to www.indiatodayconclave.com