R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Inclusiveness, gender equality and LGBTQ rights are on Sonam Kapoor's wish list for 2018. In a revealing conversation with Imran Amed, the fashion arbiter urges us on the importance of optimism in today’s world.

Imran Amed: Optimism is an interesting topic. It doesn’t feel very optimistic in the world at the moment, does it?

Sonam Kapoor: Well, when the world goes through hard times, the best dialogue starts, wonderful art comes out of it—whether that’s through film or literature—the dialogue is more relevant, and it propagates some sort of change. So, as an artist, it’s the moment that we can actually thrive in and have the best sort of work come out of. It’s sad, but that’s the truth.

IA: Let’s talk about some of the things that you’re optimistic about, then.

SK: I’m really optimistic about all this dialogue about female empowerment, and what’s going on in terms of people speaking up for what they deserve, whether it’s the way they have been treated at work, equal pay for equal opportunity, women trying to have their voices heard louder, the self-worth that they are discovering. I think that’s something that we should be really positive about because for all these years, especially in our part of the world, in Asia and the Middle-East, women have not had much of a voice. I’m optimistic about the kinds of films that are doing well in India right now, at least the films that I have been part of. They’re not easy films, the so-called ‘masala entertainers’ that usually do well in India. The audience is more intelligent than we give them credit for.

IA: You talk about women in Asia and the Middle-East speaking up more now. But it’s also a global phenomenon.