Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s smoking in Bhansali’s Guzaarish is picking up heat. But with young women fast taking to smoking in reality, wonder if it’s being accepted as ’sexy’…

Winona Ryder, Mira Sorvino, Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman smoke much more on the big screen than people do in real life, a study had claimed some time back, calling them dangerous role models for young women.

As trailers of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan smoking go on air, there’s a global concern if smoking on-screen is sexy.

Aishwarya Rai smoking

Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan Vogue

Not that it’s the first time an actress is shown smoking on screen, for similar furore was witnessed when Kareena Kapoor lit a ciggy in Chameli, Rani Mukerji in Bichoo , Manisha Koirala in Company or when Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut made smoking look like some style statement in Fashion.

Winona Ryder smoking

But isn’t ‘women-smoking’ a part of the real world too?

Smoking-scenes-in-movies

Smoking on screen

In a country, where cigars, hookahs and cigarettes were once regarded as symbols that spoke of man’s machismo, though the acceptance to the fact may have been slow, the fact is – women have caught up with the trend, and fast.

“So, what’s wrong? I mean if smoking is bad, it’s bad for both – men and women alike. Then why is there always an eyebrow raised and a special mention made when it’s about girls smoking, on screen or off screen?” reasons Jyoti Khurana, a chain-smoker who works with a BPO. So even though Jyoti admits the habit is bad, she shares, “the addiction for anyone starts almost the same way. The fact that girls are as independent and high earning, and facing the same stress as men, the reasons for taking to smoking too, are similar.”

As for women smoking on-screen, “Perhaps those ’so-called’ keepers of traditions, who say smoking on screen influences young women, have turned a blind eye to what the society has become with girls now far from being those simple, domesticated, dependant women.

When there are so many lifestyle changes that we’re ready to accept for the good, these are just some others that come with the change too. And that’s what these actresses are doing on screen – portraying the real woman of today. Then why this fuss?” reasons Anu Dayal, a smoker once, who quit smoking a couple of years back.

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