It's okay to fight for it: Deepika Padukone on pay gap
New York, April 25: Deepika Padukone, one of the highest paid actors in the Indian film industry, says women must not shy away from demanding and even fighting for the pay they think they deserve.
The actress, who attended the TIME 100 gala here on Tuesday night, spoke to Time magazine about the need for confidence among women to ask for better pay.
"You can feel a sense of - am I stepping over the line, do I deserve it? But if you believe you deserve it, then you do," said Deepika, the only Indian to feature in the Time 100 Influential People in the World, sharing space with names like Nicole Kidman, Gal Gadot, Greta Gerwig and Lena Waithe.
"For years, we've been made to feel we should be okay with settling for less, with sometimes a promise of getting something more later on. But I think you should get what you think you deserve. It's okay to fight for it, and it's okay to feel uncomfortable initially, because that's just the way we've been made to feel for so long," she added.
The actress, who won hearts by gesturing a 'namaste' at the red carpet where she dazzled in an embellished ivory ensemble, also spoke about her struggle with clinical depression at the gala.
"February 15, 2014, I remember waking up that morning with a strange pittish feeling in my stomach. I had no idea what I was feeling. Life all of a sudden just felt meaningless and there were days when I just wanted to give up. And couple of weeks later I was diagnosed with clinical depression.
"Four years on, I stand here in front of all of you with a slightly better understanding, I think, of life and my feelings and the person that I am, but I feel like more importantly, I think all of you will agree with me when I say that we're going through some pretty challenging times all around the world," said the 32-year-old.
She said it's the power, strength and courage that she derives from the people around her that encourages her to go on every day.
"And for some of us I think who do think of giving up once in a while, I want you to know that we're all in this together, and most importantly that there is hope, because in the words of Stephen Fry, "We'll be sunny one day'," she said.
Deepika also has a foundation The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Voters swayed by money, liquor, gifts will be reborn as animals: Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA
Indore (PTI): BJP MLA and former Madhya Pradesh minister Usha Thakur has slammed those voting on the basis of money, liquor and gifts and asserted that such persons who sell democracy will be reborn as camels, sheep, goats, dogs and cats.
A video of her purported remarks, made at a meeting on Wednesday in Hasalpur village in her Mhow assembly constituency, went viral on social media, prompting the opposition Congress to slam the MLA for her “conservative thinking”.
“Thousands of rupees come into the accounts of every beneficiary through so many schemes of the BJP government, like Ladli Behna Yojana and Kisan Samman Nidhi. Even after that, if votes are sold for 1,000-500 (rupees), then it is a matter of shame for humans,” she said while urging people to protect democracy.
Referring to the secrecy of one’s ballot, Thakur said God was watching, adding that “do not lose your integrity while casting your vote”.
“Those who became neutral after taking money, saree, glass, and liquor, write it down in your diary that they are definitely going to become camels, sheep, goats, dogs and cats in the next birth. Those who will sell democracy are going to become these only. Write this down. I have a direct conversation with God, believe me,” she said.
Thakur, who has been in the news earlier for such statements, asserted that one must only vote for the BJP, which serves the nation, religion and culture.
Asked about these remarks, Thakur told PTI she was trying to spread awareness among rural voters.
“Democracy is our life. The government runs many schemes to improve the lives of people as per the provisions of the Constitution. It serves the public all 12 months of the year. In such a situation, if a person sells his vote for money, liquor or other material in any situation during elections, then it is an unpardonable crime,” the MLA opined.
“We get the next life on the basis of our deeds. If our deeds are bad, then we will not be reborn as humans,” she said defending her remarks.
MP Congress spokesperson Mrinal Pant said Thakur's statement not only shows her “conservative thinking” but also points towards the internal tussle among BJP leaders in Mhow.
