Do you touch yourself? Dev (Abhay Deol) asks his childhood sweetheart Paro (Mahie Gill). She nods and curls her toes. Is it a situation women recognise? Dev D, Anurag Kashyap’s new movie, seems to be altering the portrayal of the Bollywood heroine — from sex symbol to sexually aware woman. But is it a trend or a one-off attempt?
According to Mahie Gill, Indian cinema is changing fast and portraying a woman as sexually alive is becoming acceptable. Audiences have matured alongside, she says. “In Punjab, where many men work abroad, the women loved my character and they could relate to her,” says Mahi.
