Showbiz’s penchant for sexual exploitation: Bee Gul

One thing makes feminist icon and prolific writer Bee Gul feel secure at night: she has earned every success in show business on her own terms.

The Jamun Ka Darakht writer spoke candidly about the widespread sexual abuse in show business during her guest appearance on Rafay Mahmood’s program. She also discussed how she overcame a toxic environment where inappropriate solicitations were commonplace.

“Any girl who enters the industry considers it normal because it is so common,” Bee said matter-of-factly, demolishing the myth that the sector could ever be “paak saaf.” It occurs everywhere I’m aware of. Women are psychologically ready for it. They are aware that they will eventually have to give up their physical attractiveness.

According to Bee, getting sexual favors is so ingrained in the success ladder that women frequently have no choice but to comply if they want to advance. “Regardless of how talented they are as an actor, for a great number of people, it is their only path to success.”

Constantly conscious of the alarming sound of the clock running out, Bee cautioned that female actresses beyond the age of 35 have already passed their prime. They frequently feel pressured to sacrifice their morals in the pursuit of success. She clarified that there is a restricted age range for this. “They cannot afford to struggle for an extended period of time. Who knows, maybe things might be different if the age range was looser.

Bee gave the example of a friend who was an accomplished actor but had to quit because he couldn’t make it. The cause? a firm reluctance to sacrifice moral principles. Though such obstinacy would be the end of a showbiz career for some, Bee continued by explaining that some novices to the field were more likely to be taken advantage of than others.

The screenwriter observed, “A lot of the girls who are entering the field now are educated and financially stable – and those girls are treated differently.” “Girly girls who have never had much and who long for a better life are the ones who ultimately make concessions.”

Bee quickly clarified that she was not passing judgment on the women who made the effort to move up the success ladder in a society that was hostile to them. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with it.” “It is an individual decision.” Nonetheless, Bee never made the decision on her own. She reflected, “I was offered so many things.” “An apartment in New York was even extended to me! I’m sorry I didn’t take that, she laughed further. They even guarantee you a trip to Dubai. It’s very alluring! I can’t afford seven-star holidays, and my own father would never offer me an apartment in New York!”

In all honesty, Bee said, she had never gone out to pursue the financial gains that were being held out to her in the guise of advancement. Even though her short film Jamun Ka Darakht hasn’t made as much money as some of her contemporaries, Bee has clearly overcome adversity. It won international attention at the Cannes film festival and in the US.

“I’m trying to say that I survived,” she stated resolutely. I refused to give in, so they couldn’t kill me. They tried, and still attempt, to make me unimportant, but there are methods to make a livelihood in my field if you refuse to give up. It’s not a life-or-death circumstance.

Knowing what you want out of life is the key to deciding whether or not to stand your ground in such a toxic environment, according to Bee. She counseled, “You need to be clear about what you want.” “Being able to pay my bills and driving a reasonable car are important things to me.” Even though Bee had to live like a common mortal in order to maintain her integrity, her scripts criticizing sexism and misogyny still hold up today.