BOLLYWOOD RELOADS THE SURROGACY STORY

With a growing demand for fresh stories, storytellers have started exploring topics that bring fresh perspectives to the screen. One addition seems to be stories on surrogacy. At some point, it was almost a taboo to discuss the topic, on or off the screen. With mindsets as well as platforms of exhibition opening up with the advent of OTT, Bollywood filmmakers no longer shy from dealing with the subject ion a fictional manner.

‘Mimi’, starring Kriti Sanon, is one film based on the subject that has been creating a buzz. It will be directed by Laxman Utekar. The actress plays a young surrogate mother in the film and had even undergone body transformation for her role, putting on 15 kg.

Another film, ‘Dukaan’, featuring Monika Panwar in the lead, was announced recently. It will be directed by Siddharth-Garima. The film is directed by Siddharth and Garima. There was also a talk about a film being made on male surrogacy by Raaj Shandilyaa but nothing concrete has come of it yet.

The subject, of course, has been dealt with over the years. Meghna Gulzar made ‘Filhaal’ in 2002 starring Sushmita Sen, Tabu, Sanjay Suri, and Palash Sen. Salman Khan starred in Abbas-Mustan’s ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ in 2001 with Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji.

But there was a problem back then, two decades ago. For one, the subject did not find favour with the audience. Plus, there was an issue with the films, too. ‘Filhaal’ seemed too offbeat for general taste to reach out to the wider audience. ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ did reach out to the wider audience thanks to star power, but it was too much of a Salman Khan package, using the subject of surrogacy to merely create a love triangle of sorts between its three stars.

Now, Bollywood is attempting to revive the topic and introduce it to an all-new audience, though cautiously. As of now, there are only two films on the subject. The box office show of ‘Mimi’, and ‘Dukaan’ would perhaps decide if newer stories will be explored around the subject of surrogacy.