Nudity in Indian cinema has always been a debatable subject. The traditional Indian audiences were never treated to the full frontal nude scenes of prominent Bollywood actors or actress fearing widespread criticism from the society and the wrath of the moral brigade. However, with the passage of time and due to western influences, some tectonic changes are being witnessed in the mainstream Hindi cinema, wherein our budding actors are more than eager to shed their clothes just for the sake of the art of film making. Actress Nandana Sen in film-maker Ketan Mehta’s epic flick on Raja Rammohan Roy ‘Rang Rasiya’ or Radhika Apte baring all in Leena Yadav’s ‘Parched’ is an indication that Bollywood is opening up, the actors, be it the male or females, are coming out of closet and shedding their inhibitions.
One would ask why so much fuss about something which is very common in the West. In the Western countries or more precisely in Hollywood, stripping for a commercial ad shoot or a film is not viewed with much-hyped curiosity. It is a routine affair in the West where A-list film stars and celebrities take pride in flaunting their flawless bodies. Indian Hollywood Actor Freida Pinto has also been a part of the west’s flaunting. They grace the cover pages of prestigious tabloids and magazines sometimes for the promotion of a brand or sometimes for publicity, which can revive their fortunes.
This is not the first time that any known Indian actor or celebrity has posed naked for a commercial, photo shoot or for a film. A trip down the memory lane will help you recall how in the past Protima Bedi, Simi Garewal, Madhu Sapre, Mamta Kulkarni, Pooja Bhatt, Puja Bedi, Milind Soman, Zeenat Aman, Mandakini, Anu Agarwal etc exposed to varying degrees for various reasons. They all supposedly made progressive statements advocating the viewpoint that one is free to express oneself how one wants. However, all of these have courted controversies and faced legal battles for unnecessarily imitating the western culture just in the name of women’s liberty.
Renowned author Salman Rushdie’s ex-wife and super model Padma Lakshmi had also posed naked for the Allure magazine. Padma Lakshmi, who is the author of a cookbook and show host, posed naked with four other celebrities in the US magazine. In December 2008, Titanic star Kate Winslet posed in just platform heels and a front open white overcoat for Vanity Fair. The Vanity Fair’s issue carrying Winslet’s centrefold was released just ahead of the release of her movie ‘The Reader’. For which Winslet won the Academy Award in the best actress category. Similarly, Brad Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston adorned the cover of GQ magazine wearing just a necktie. That too coincided with the release of her film ‘He’s Just Not That into You’. There is a never ending list of Hollywood celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Sharone Stone, Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, Catherine Zeta Zones, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Lindsay Lohan, and Carmen Electra who have showed their curvaceous bodies for money and for publicity.
Our tinsel town babes too are not shying away from exposing for promoting their films. However the A-list actresses prefer to stay away from full exposure. In the recent times, Indian audiences have readily accepted and adjusted to the onscreen kissing scenes thereby providing Bollywood some opportunity to experiment further. But, after Pahlaj Nihlani taking over the office at CBFC, the film industry is facing some harsh cuts to avoid such western culture. The Indian Censor Board, is clearly intending to show the door to films showcasing nudity.
The culture of flashing boobs, intentionally wearing see-through outfits, and engineered wardrobe malfunctions have all been publicity gimmicks of the Western bigwigs. But Indian celebs have been modest enough to cover up their well-toned bodies while in public. So what if the same trend starts here in India? Indians have had a deep fascination for controversial Hollywood movies full of sensuality. We have all loved watching these flicks in private, but shy away from accepting it. Can anyone forget the stir created by Sharon Stone’s ‘Basic Instinct’, the famous striptease act by Demi Moore or Anne Hathway in ‘Love and other Drugs’? The popularity of Hollywood movies in our country is an indicator of our acceptance of nudity.
Even in the ultra-modern western society, there is a clear cut demarcation between pornography and nudity, so will we make a distinction between the two in India as well? Is the Indian viewer mature enough to accept nudity as a part of a film if the script so demands? No one knows if this trend in Bollywood will add artistic credence or just satiate our hidden lust for watching Indian celebrities pose in the nude. Is it important for the Indians to look at West for everything it does to be called modern and progressive? It is clearly up to the audiences to decide what is good for them but at the moment they appear to be enjoying the idea of watching their favourite actors stripping on screen.
