(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Despite working in different industries, tennis star Sania Mirza and Bollywood director Farah Khan have been close friends for over a decade now. "We have known each other for 11 years. I am a person who can't dance to save her life and she's one who cannot run or do any sports activity," said Sania while describing her friendship with Farah.
The duo were in Dubai to inaugurate fashion and lifestyle pop-up The Label Trunk which was created by Sania's sister Anam Mirza with partner and entrepreneur Akbar Rasheed, at Weslodge in JW Marriot Marquis Hotel, on Monday.
Recalling their early days of friendship, Farah said, "I wanted Sania for a show, but she couldn't come for it. However, we stayed in touch over the phone. Then, the next time she came to Mumbai, we met up. She came over to my house and it felt like we were old friends. I am very old, but it felt like we knew each other for long."
While both ladies are bonafide superstars and icons in their respective fields, we were left wanting for more when asked what they felt about women talking about sexual assaults these days. "There should be a point to talk about it. Something concrete should come out of it. It can also be dangerous because anyone can get up and talk without any proof and then it is trial by media," Farah said.
"It is a double-edged sword and you have to be extremely careful. I am saying you have to be careful because if you don't like a man, you can get up and say whatever you want about that man and his life is destroyed. And nobody is wanting any proof or anything," she added.
Sania gave a more rounded perspective, "Sexism exists in the world. It exists in every field. We do live in a man's world. Women do know that it is a man's world. It is very difficult in life to succeed whether you are a man or woman but it is a little bit more difficult if you are a woman, for various reasons. You can call it sexism or the way things work in the world or call it the way of life. But it's changing. I can talk about amazing athletes in our countries who are superstars, and they are female sports superstars. Outside of cricket, all the name of sports people that come to our minds are that of P.V. Sindhu, Mary Kom, Mithali Raj etc. They are all amazing woman achievers," Sania said.
Farah couldn't agree less. "I can see things changing every day. Bollywood is not away from the world. It is not a separate world of its own. Normal people work in Bollywood. If you see old movies, women's role was limited to long-suffering ones. Then it changes. Movies are a reflection of life and not vice versa," she said.
Dubai is second home for Sania
When asked if Dubai is a home for her and her Pakistani husband Shoaib Malik, Sania replied: "It's been home for a long time. It's just that we spend a lot more time here now. I also travel a lot more now, I have literally been to India three times in the last 10 days. Dubai is my second home. Of course, Hyderabad will always be my home, but Dubai is definitely a second home to me."
Why did Farah Khan post Harvey Weinstein's photo online?
Farah Khan recently posted an old photograph of herself and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and tweeted, "Found this!! Throwback of all throwbacks! Me giving Bollywood gyaan (wisdom) to Harvey Weinstein!! #beforetheshithitthefan #mainhoonna shoot." When asked what was the point behind posting that picture, she said, "It was just a throwback picture of Harvey Weinstein. I was trying to get old pictures of Om Shanti Om and I found his pictures from the sets of Main Hoon Na. He was very impressed by what we were doing. Now, it is upsetting to hear about all the scandals."
Ten years of Om Shanti Om
Farah's blockbuster Om Shanti Om completed 10 years of its release on November 9, so does the filmmaker have any fond memories to share: "It is difficult to talk about one memory about Om Shanti Om because I remember every day of the film. It was the easiest film that I've made because it came out from the space that I knew so well. I did not have to think about it or learn about it. It was internal. Everything about the film was special - Deepika's (Padukone) first day or Shah Rukh Khan's song Dard E Disco, or the title track where the biggest stars from the (Indian film) industry came in. People remember strange dialogues from the movie which are not even iconic. People remember little things and throw lines from the movies. Not many people get to have a movie like that which becomes iconic and people remember it, even 10 years later.
Sania picks her fav films
Farah: Tees Maar Khan (jokes)
Sania: We are true to each other and that's why she knows what I think of Tees Maar Khan. Though my sister Anam loves Tees Maar Khan!
Farah: That's why I love Anam!
Sania: I love Om Shanti Om and Main Hoon Na.
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