Written by Bollywood is also known as a destination where dreams are created. The glamorous world has tremendous opportunities to offer from fame, and power to a creative platform for expression, it is all an individual could ever dream about. But are these opportunities accessible to everyone in the country? This is Foramz and today we will talk about how Physically disabled people struggle for an opportunity in the so-called hub of dreams- Bollywood.
While there has been a gradual shift of the dreamland towards inclusiveness and diverse representation in cinema, the opportunities for people with disabilities remain limited as these passionate and determined individuals live in the hope of a better future. This disparity stems from societal prejudices, lack of infrastructure,, and stereotypes in storytelling. Bollywood as an industry is widely versatile and have varied job profiles available. Despite such a large vacancies, people who are handicapped yet talented fail to get the opportunity that they deserve. Call it biased society or the authorities mindset of underestimating the talent, it is a social issue which ruins talent and lives.
Mumbai the city of dreams, promises hope, fame and money to all but the one who had the courage to leave their hometowns, families and make a career in the city that never sleeps now know why the city never sleeps.
It is because the city keeps the dreamers awake,
awake until it is dawn and have to work again,
awake in thoughts of survival,
awake in the memories of their families,
awake in the worry of an unmarried sister,
awake in the stress of getting the role,
awake in striving for that position,
awake in proving their worth.
People privileged with their healthy bodies do strive but people with physical liabilities have to strive harder. People who don’t have a prosthetic leg work hard but people with a prosthetic leg face issues in walking hard. The difference is that they face great hurdles in performing day to day tasks with ease. Bollywood is well known as a place uninviting for outsiders. People with contacts and networking can get opputunities but people who become handicapped in a tragic incident do not have contacts. Does that mean that they will live a life full of false hopes and sympathies ? Obviously No ! Such people do lose an ability but have mental strength like any other. Their will power is strong but no one can survive in Bolywood only on will.
Albeit portrayed by a non-disabled actors, films have been released which depict the struggles of disabled individuals. Advocacy groups and disabilty rights activists push for more inclusivity in casting, scriptwriting and production. Yet the progess remains slow and sporadic which reefelcts socety’s attitides towards disability. Behind the scenes, the hurdles are no less daunting. Basic amenities like wheelchair access, assistive technologies, and supportive work environments are often absent, making it harder for disabled individuals to fully participate in the industry. Lets assume somehow they do get a meaningful opputunity but later, they are bound to face widespread stigma and are often typecast or sidelined, without opputunities to meaningful roles or opputunities.
To transform the state of handicapped individuals in Bollywood, systemic reforms are essential. These include proactive casting of disabled actors, making production environments more accessible, and challenging stereotypes through thoughtful and accurate storytelling. Only then can Bollywood become a truly inclusive industry that values talent and creativity over physical abilities
Societal attitude towards disabilities compound a problem. There is a perception that individuals with disabilities are less capable of performing more demanding tasks associated with fimlmaking, whteehr on screeen or behinf the camera. This misconception has pushed the opputunities in another direction leaving such talented people without a chance to prove them. All they need is a chance to prove themselves
Furthermore, societal attitudes compound the problem. There is a perception that individuals with disabilities are less capable of performing the demanding tasks associated with filmmaking, whether on screen or behind the camera. This misconception fosters an environment where handicapped individuals are overlooked or underestimated, irrespective of their skills or qualifications. This was a glimpse in the life of people with disabilities and their struggles to make it in the bollywood industry. Next time we will be discussing depth about how these struggles are a part of a larger social issue. Keep Reading Foramz for you daily dose of moral support.
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