(NSI News Source Info) August 17, 2008: In earlier Bollywood films, Christians were given characters that remained in the margins, perhaps highlighting their outsider status
Bollywood's look at religion has been the subject of a lot of debate and a lot of criticism. A pictorial journey tracing to see if Bollywood really has become more mature (Manmohan Desai's Amar Akbar Anthony - Vinod K, Rishi K + B Big).
The first name that comes to mind is Helen. She is most known for her portrayal of the seductress or the vamp. Wonder if her name and religion has anything to do with it.
Dimple Kapadia played the title role in Bobby and this might have been the reason she could sport short skirts, bikinis and even indulge in an on-screen kiss.
The stereotype held fast even when Hindus were playing Christian characters. Lalitha Pawar played the Christian matron many times and she was called Mrs D'souza in more than one film with Raj Kapoor.
In spite of the brilliance of Aparna Sen's 36 Chowringhee Lane, the Christian character was a British lady, in other words, an outsider. It was, however, a relief to see a woman in the lead role and a Christian character that was not the villain.
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