JOIN USRemember the girl who created a buzz on social media after she uploaded a picture of holding her bra and voicing her opinion on gender inequality? The act which was a part of the campaign #freethenipple featured Saloni Chopra.
She came into limelight with a short film Maya, which got official entry to the Cannes Film Festival. The young actor, who is now seen playing the role of Isha in MTV’s show Girls on Top, has kick started another campaign called #speakup which talks about discrimination against women. In a candid conversation with Metrolife, Chopra talks more about her campaign, her life and future projects.
Excerpts:
Tell us about your latest campaign.
For me, as Saloni - everything I do has been part of #speakup. It’s all about having a voice. #speakup is another way of helping people stand up for something they believe in. In a generation like ours, we are lucky to have social media and technology. It’s so much easier to create awareness.
The more people are aware, the more likely they are to make a difference. So many kids responded with their own #speakup topics. What they’d like to change in society. Where do you think that’s coming from? That’s when it matters — it allows individuals to take a stand, be a part of a movement and know that they aren’t alone.
How about your #freethenipple campaign? Did you face any criticism for it?
That really did blow up sooner than I imagined. To be honest, that whole post was about women being comfortable with their body parts. I was amazed by the response! Of course, a lot of people loved it. Girls and surprisingly, many boys got the message. But many people also dismissed it. They said stuff like “I’m pro rape” which was absurd.
They called it pseudo-femanazi. Some people said “go show your father and brother your nipples first!” It was strange that all they took out of my post was the word ‘nipple’. Then they said, how flaunting your bra and panty wasn’t feminism. I wrote a follow up article, explaining what #freethenipple is and what my post was for but that didn’t go viral. It’s all about what’s “trending”. I’m still learning how to deal with it, but it helped me realise that I will always be honest about my thoughts and views.
How did Girls on Top happen to you?
This was sheer chance. I was called to audition for it almost four times and I kept stalling it because television wasn’t something I wanted to do. Then one day, I read the audition piece and sent in a video audition. And to my surprise, they loved me! That’s when I finally went in. I think I have a problem with auditions.
It’s the idea of being judged on that single piece and it freaks me out. The fact that they loved me, made it easier to go through the rounds of auditions.
Has Maya been successful in creating an impact?
Maya is based on the after effects of rape that it leaves on a woman. A lot of rape cases came to light and people finally started speaking up on it. I spoke to so many girls who were rape victims. Their stories became a part of me. This was our way of contributing towards the cause.
Made by me and two of my friends Anmol and Sanjeel, we spent very little money on that project. So when it got into Cannes, that feeling was indescribable. After the film was made, many girls contacted me, sharing their stories, telling me how they felt motivated to speak up. It made me want to do more. Maya is and always will be close to my heart.