Meerra Chopraa on backing Gandhi Talks: ‘People don’t take women producers seriously’

Meerra Chopraa

Last seen on screen over two years ago, Meerra Chopraa is not in a rush to face the camera. Instead, the actor is enjoying her new role of a producer. She has co-produced the upcoming film, Gandhi Talks. "The longevity of a female actor was always a question in my mind. The constant hustle of an actor made me ask myself, ‘Do I want to do this all my life?' That prompted me to start production," Chopraa tells mid-day.

Gandhi Talks came her way incidentally. She met director Kishor Pandurang Belekar while working on Section 375 (2019). During the pandemic, she decided to associate herself with the project. "The world had become madder with the kind of films it was making. And here was a director passionate about making a silent film. So, I went ahead with his courage," she smiles.

A still from ‘Gandhi Talks'

The journey hasn't been easy. Chopraa reveals that she has faced sexism on different occasions. "The wish to see more women producers stems from the fact that people don't take you seriously. During a business deal, I wanted to discuss numbers with a producer. He indirectly told me, ‘This is not your job, you act.' Why do you have to bracket people? It's a patriarchal industry where a hero can become a producer, but you don't expect a female actor to become a producer and talk business."