Exclusive: Working with Akshay inspired me to love my country more, says Bhumi

Bhumi Pednekar is on cloud number nine with her latest release, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, being successful. “We were hopeful about the film being liked by the audiences, as after the trailer release, the buzz created was very positive. Imagine, since I belong to Mumbai, I wasn’t aware about this problem. I felt creating awareness was very important. The subject also sent out a strong message on women suffering, owing to not having a toilet at home. Defecating in the open is indeed a grave problem for them,” she says.

Like a proper trade pundit, she adds, “I was sure that after Friday, and with the word of mouth, the film will surely boost up. When you handle the subject creatively and bring about a rare and important message sensitively, the films really do well.”

So, what has she learnt from Akshay Kumar? “I’ve surely learnt to be happy,” she laughs. “I always loved my country, but having worked with him has inspired me more. Not forgetting to learn his fitness mantra! Getting up early in the morning keeps one fit as a fiddle too.”

Her next movie, Shubh Mangal Savdhaan, deals with the topic of erectile dysfunction. She asserts, “Erectile dysfunction is a very big problem amongst boys. We always believe that boys don’t face any problems or weaknesses. They’re embodied in the phrase ‘mard ko dard nahi hota hai’ (Men don’t feel pain). Neither do boys, nor do couples like to discuss this big problem. It’s so weird that boys in our society are brought up in a manner that they need to only show their manly strength by being cruel to women. We need to change the image of boys in this respect.”

She adds, “We’re all aware that this problem happens because of anxiety and stress. There are certain remedies that can help solve this problem. It feels really weird that nobody likes to discuss their problem openly. Like, if your partner has any other sickness, will we leave them and run away? Similarly, this can also be addressed.”

About choosing such subjects, Bhumi says, “We’re social animals, so it’s our duty to bring about radical changes for the betterment of society. I’m a progressive, modern girl. We need to make India a progressive and developed country in every manner. I’m doing my bit through films.”