Reality warning: the below statements had some or the other audience member laughing or cheering or both when these horrendous dialogues were uttered. Going to the movies is supposed to be a means to unwind, relax and spend a couple of hours away from a hectic and stressful day. But then again, movies are inspired by and also inspire real life. Most Bollywood films (especially the ones making money in the box office) generate and churn out nausea-inducing moments of misogyny. What can only be worse are the widespread cheers these dialogues are met with.
Without further ado, here is a list of some of the vilest sexist dialogues archived in B’town’s celluloid.
1) Dabangg
Pyaar se de rahe hai, rakh lo. Warna thappad maar ke bhi de sakhte hai.
2) Jab We Met
Akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai.
3) Race 2
Upar waale ne tumhe aage aur peeche bahaut kuch diya hai. Lekin upar kuch nahin diya hai.
4) Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Sapne dekho, zaroor dekho, bus unke poore hone ki shart mat rakho.
5) Kambakkht Ishq
Marriage se pehle ladkiyajn sex object hoti hain, our marriage ke baad they object to sex!
6) Darr
Tu haan kar, ya naa kar, tu hai meri Kiran!
7) Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
Yeh hoti hai asli ladki, chutki mein Bipasha, chutki mein Madhubala.
8) Grand Masti
Balatkar se yaad aaya, mere biwi kahan hain?
These dialogues were packaged as moments of ‘humour’ and expressions of ‘love’, The success of Kabir Singh at the box office was a wake-up call to how accepting we are of on-screen misogyny – a reflection of what we think is acceptable in our everyday lives. While there has been criticism, let us not forget that on-screen misogyny sells and is widely enjoyed, setting a very dangerous precedent for the times we live in.
Also Read: How Has Bollywood Dealt With Workplace Sexual Harassment?
