Knot the end of their careers

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Vidya with husband Siddharth

There used to be a time in Bollywood, when actresses would disclose that they were married only after their heydays in the industry had come to an end. Then there were those like Sridevi who took a long sabbatical from the industry after tying the knot.

The present scenario, however, tells us a different story. Actresses these days, especially those at the top, seem to have no qualms about settling down and talking about it too. They appear more at ease with the “married” tag. Cases in point are actresses like Genelia D’Souza, Kareena Kapoor and Vidya Balan tying the knot at the peak of their careers.
A month before her marriage, Kareena Kapoor had said in an interview, “My mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore) continued to work after she got married. Some of the most memorable films happened in her career after she tied the knot. It is talent and the luck factor that keeps an actor going. Why should marriage affect an actor’s growth?” While Kareena and Vidya continue to enjoy a rock solid status in Bollywood, Genelia is one of the most sought after actresses in the South. Does this mean the film industry is now more open to married actresses? Director and producer Vikram Bhatt feels, “A decade ago the audience wasn’t willing to accept a married actress as the leading lady. Back then it was just the glamour quotient that mattered. The generation today understands and accepts actors for their contribution to Indian cinema.”
The success of women-centric movies like Kahaani, English Vinglish and Heroine also prove that today scripts are being written specially for the leading ladies. Film critics believe that marriage doesn’t affect box office performance as it is the actresses’ on-screen performance that matters. Taran Adarsh says, “The audience today accepts marriage as a phase in the lives of these actresses. Kajol giving hits like Fanaa and My Name Is Khan despite being married and having children is the best example you can get.”