In today's episode, Soumya hosts Neeti Palta, a standup comic from Delhi, and Ankita Bansal, who is a fashion designer and was featured on Season 1 of Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking. We begin by mapping out the many tropes of the "ideal woman" stereotype represented in Bollywood, and we have many woes to share. Whether it's the demand of subservience, the normalisation of abuse and punishment, or the way women should smile or cook or look - the film industry has left us wanting for more.

We examine how these ramifications of cinema seep into the home and work spaces, and how the constant guilt of not having sacrificed enough is pervasive, especially with society acting as an overarching agent of patriarchy. We work to flip the narrative on societal expectations and emphasise less judgement and more kindness #forallwomxn.

Neeti Palta is a standup comic based out of New Delhi and has been a part of the comedy scene since its inception in India. With a writing background in advertising and TV, she also has a standup special on Amazon Prime titled ‘Almost Sanskari.’

Ankita Bansal is the founder of a denim clothing brand, There! and has also featured on Season 01 of Netflix reality series, ‘Indian Matchmaking’ in 2020.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guests:

Neeti Palta

Ankita Bansal

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Ishaan Devasthali

Artwork: Alika Gupta