Cannes: Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan joined the United Nations Women’s panel on gender equality in the film industry during her this year’s first appearance at the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival.
The esteemed panel included Under Secretary-General UN Women Elizabeth Nyamayaro, Hollywood actresses Salma Hayek and Parker Posey, producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Christine Vachon.
The former Miss World bonded with Hayek while discussing the gender equality in the film industry.
Speaking at the forum organised by trade magazine Variety and UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, the actors spoke of their own experiences of institutional sexism and called on studios, audiences and journalists to alter the discourse.
“Cinema undermines women’s intelligence,†said Hayek, who appears in Matteo Garonne’s competition entry The Tale of Tales.
“They don’t see us as a powerful economic force. It’s incredible ignorance. Hollywood doesn’t have this business vision,†she added.
Posey, who co-stars in Woody Allen’s Irrational Man, suggested that far for being in a progressive era, “We live in very masculine times. The culture is eating nature; it’s overpowering storytelling. Movies are turning into games – it’s about the image not nuance. We’re also live in very ghoulish times. It’s very bloody.â€
Meanwhile, keeping with the tone of the event, Aishwarya was dressed in a sober floral Sabyasachi gown. She accessorised it with a clutch.
Aishwarya, who is attending the festival for the 14th time in a row, will walk the red carpet as L’oreal Paris brand ambassador later in the day and also on May 20.
She will attend the amfAR charity Gala on May 21 with her actor husband Abhishek Bachchan.
(With inputs from PTI)