Ektaa Kapoor speaks out on 'Hinduphobia', recalls being called a freak for her tika

Producer Ektaa Kapoor has said the entertainment industry is biased against Hindu faith and culture. On a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia, she called it "Hinduphobia".

In her view, the resistance shows up as soon as a story draws on Indian folklore or mythology. "We're okay with animated animation, but we're not okay with discussing folklore and mythology," she said. She added that a film's numbers are great, but its link to folklore matters just as much. She also feels things are getting better: "There's so much more acceptance now."

Her comments come after The Vvaan, a film she produced, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia. It mixes fantasy and supernatural elements with folklore tied to the Maa Van Devi Temple in Bihta, in Bihar's Patna district.

The talk then turned personal. Ektaa recalled being mocked and called a freak for wearing a tika and dhaaga. "Wearing a tika and wearing your religion on your sleeve is such a problem," she said. Ranveer also mentioned that she had once been labelled a "tantrik".

Another memory was going to a club straight from a mandir. People there were surprised and asked if she had really been to a temple. She said yes, and asked them back, "What's so shocking?"