Actress and iconic dancer Malaika Arora, who has completed over 30 years in the entertainment industry, recently spoke out about the stark...
Actress and iconic dancer Malaika Arora, who has
completed over 30 years in the entertainment industry, recently spoke out about
the stark disparity in how ageing is perceived for men and women. She
highlighted how women are constantly questioned about growing older and
expected to justify how they feel about it, while men are rarely subjected to
the same scrutiny. Calling out this deeply ingrained bias, she pointed to the
patriarchal mindset that continues to shape beauty standards, where ageing in
men is often normalized or even celebrated, but in women, it is treated as
something to be examined or defended.
When asked about navigating perceptions around the
evolution of her appearance over time, Malaika Arora, during her conversation
on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra (Season 3), produced by Gautam Thakker
Films, shared her perspective.
“There are days when these thoughts cross my mind,
days when I question the obvious, and then there are days when I simply don’t
care because I know I’m doing what I love. I’m enjoying this phase of my life,
I feel like I’m in my prime, and I’m still hungry to do so much more. That’s
what truly matters to me” says Malaika
She further adds ”What I find interesting is
that women are constantly asked these questions about age, beauty, and
desirability, while men are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny. A woman is
always expected to justify how she looks, “Do you still feel beautiful? Do you
still feel desirable? How does it feel to be this age?’ These questions are
almost never directed at men. For me, it’s never been just about physical
appearance. Of course, that’s what the world sees first, but there’s so much
more. It’s about how you feel mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s
about what drives you, what motivates you to get out of bed every morning and
seize the day. I don’t wake up thinking, ‘I look good today.’ That’s not how
most women function. We wake up wanting to create, contribute, build something
meaningful, and leave behind a legacy that our children and families can be
proud of”
Malaika Arora shares a powerful message for women
everywhere “And honestly, the constant commentary around women and age needs
to change. ‘She looks amazing for her age,’ ‘She’s so fit at this age’, why is
age always the headline? I was myself then, I am myself now, and I’ll continue
to be myself twenty years from now because I feel good, I feel strong, and I
feel fulfilled. I think women everywhere need to wear that confidence like a
badge of honour, unapologetically. We should celebrate ourselves, our journeys,
and everything we continue to become”
On the work front, Malaika Arora continues to
remain a prominent presence in music and pop culture, with recent appearances
including “Poison Baby” from Thamma (2025) and “Chillgum” alongside Yo Yo Honey
Singh. She is widely celebrated for her iconic dance numbers such as “Munni
Badnaam Hui” and “Chaiyya Chaiyya.”
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