'The Royals' director Priyanka Ghose opens up about Zeenat Aman's smoking scene: 'It tells you how bold she is...'

Time of India

26-05-2025

Zeenat Aman's onscreen act sparked change. Women now lead Bollywood behind the scenes. Director Priyanka Ghose highlights Bengal's influence on her work. Female characters are now defined by their desires. More women are greenlighting complex stories. This shift allows for authentic portrayals. Small choices reveal character depth. Ghose's upbringing shaped her perspective. She aims for confident, culturally authentic female characters.
When
Zeenat Aman
lit a joint in The Royals, it wasn't just a rebellious onscreen moment—it was a statement. With women increasingly taking charge behind the camera as directors, producers, and writers, Bollywood is finally giving its female characters the freedom to be complex, bold, and unapologetically real.
A Director's Lens Shaped by Bengal
In a candid conversation with News18 Showsha, The Royals director
Priyanka Ghose
unpacks how her personal experiences and upbringing in Bengal helped shape a fresh narrative—one where women aren't defined by societal expectations, but by their own desires, agency, and confidence.
Women Greenlighting Women's Stories
Priyanka reflected on how the growing number of women in decision-making roles—whether as producers or studio heads—has opened the door to more layered and ambitious portrayals of female characters.
She noted that with women greenlighting such stories, there's a refreshing shift in how women are represented—free from judgment and traditional constraints, and often seen exploring love and life beyond conventional roles like widowhood.
The Power of Small Choices on Screen
Ghose further pointed out that for years, women were often misrepresented in films and series, largely due to male writers missing the subtle nuances of female characters.
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She emphasized that something as simple as a woman smoking on screen doesn't alter a scene's plot, but it does reveal character depth—signaling confidence, societal progress, and the fact that India is no longer stuck in outdated narratives.
Growing up in Calcutta, the director was surrounded by self-assured women who lived life on their own terms—smoking wasn't taboo, it was just another personal choice. It wasn't until she moved to Mumbai that she noticed the social stigma around it.
This stark contrast shaped her perspective and deeply influenced the way she writes and directs her female characters—rooted in agency, confidence, and cultural authenticity.
Priyanka fondly remembers watching her aunts and other women in her family enjoying nights out at clubs without ever feeling the need to apologise for having fun—especially in the company of men. For her, such moments didn't define a woman's character but reflected confidence and freedom.
However, she's quick to clarify that this view isn't expressed lightly or without thought.
Redefining Matriarchy On-Screen
Priyanka highlights the multifaceted nature of the women in her family—strong professionals who also shoulder household responsibilities with grace. To her, this duality doesn't dilute their roles as matriarchs; instead, it enriches them. She believes that choices like drinking, smoking, or exploring relationships shouldn't be viewed negatively, as they don't diminish a woman's integrity. Instead, such portrayals reflect a more honest, layered representation of female characters on screen.
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