Entertainment

IIE Digital Desk : Veteran actress Churni Ganguly has defended the use of Bengali stereotypes in the upcoming film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaan. The film, which stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, has been criticized by some for its portrayal of Bengalis. Ganguly, who plays a Bengali matriarch in the film, said that the stereotypes are "not even stereotypes." She said that they are simply a reflection of the "very Bengali" way of life.

"We still don't wear lehengas at our weddings; we've still stuck to our sarees," Ganguly said. "And of course, we all have portraits of Rabindranath Tagore in our homes." Ganguly said that she understands why some people might be offended by the stereotypes, but she believes that they are not meant to be offensive. She said that the film is simply a love story that happens to be set in a Bengali household.

"I think that things like Ranveer's character addressing Rabindranath Tagore as 'dadaji' worked well for us," Ganguly said. "Portraits of Tagore are something you see in many Bengali houses." The film's director, Karan Johar, has also defended the use of Bengali stereotypes. He said that the film is not meant to be a documentary, but rather a "love letter" to Bengali culture. "We wanted to capture the essence of what it means to be Bengali," Johar said. "And that includes some of the stereotypes that come with it."