Mumbai, 2nd December 2025:
The second half of the 8th edition of We The Women, curated by Barkha Dutt, brought together celebrated voices from film, fashion, and the arts, discussing personal journeys and perspectives on creativity, identity, and reinvention. Among the prominent speakers were renowned fashion designer–turned–producer Manish Malhotra and critically acclaimed actor Vijay Varma, known for his powerful on-screen versatility.
Vijay Varma on Breaking Barriers and a Family’s Changing Perspective
Reflecting on his early life, Vijay Varma opened up about navigating his way from a lower-middle-class Marwadi household to finding his footing in Bollywood—a world his family neither understood nor approved of.
He recalled,
“Even I had applied to NIFT Hyderabad. I wanted to do something in the creative field and needed my father’s signature. I told him I wanted to study fashion design, and he said, ‘Tailor banega?’ and tore the form.”
From disapproval to newfound pride, the transformation has been remarkable. Speaking about his recent film Gustaakh Ishq, he added,
“My father sent me a voice note this morning saying, ‘Teri film acchi hai, akhbar mein aaya hai.’ My entire family watched the film last night in Hyderabad, and they loved it.”
Manish Malhotra on Reinvention and His New Journey as a Producer
Designer and now producer Manish Malhotra shared insights into his transition from fashion to filmmaking, emphasizing the freedom that comes with creative reinvention.
He said,
“As a producer, I’ve just started the journey, so I can experiment. As a designer or brand, people expect a certain style, and businesses are higher. But what we can do is constantly evolve. As a producer, I have a new slate, and I can experiment for some time—but eventually, I’ll land up doing glamour films because that’s the core.”
Ishaan Khatter on Homebound and Representing India at the Oscars
Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter, enjoying widespread acclaim for Homebound—India’s official entry to the Oscars—reflected on the responsibility and emotion tied to the film’s success.
He shared,
“At the moment we’re putting in the work, doing due diligence, ensuring as many people as possible can watch the film. Every kind word and every bit of support counts. The film is deeply personal to me—outside of being a career milestone, it has always felt like a role of a lifetime.”
Important Note
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Barkha Dutt / We The Women / Mojo Story to avoid copyright concerns.
