Prime Video Premieres Special Jubilee Edition Of ‘Maitri: Female First Collective’ Featuring Asha Parekh, Tanuja Aditi Rao Hydari & More

The presence of two of the most talented and revered female actors – Asha Parekh and Tanuja, made the session even more insightful.

New Delhi: Prime Video released the latest session of ‘Maitri: Female First Collective’ today. The collective is an endeavour to help build a community for women from media and entertainment as a safe place for them to come forward and discuss their experiences, challenges and successes, and offer their perspectives and advice on how to bring about a positive shift. The special session features legendary female superstars, Asha Parekh and Tanuja, the team of Jubilee - talented and popular actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Wamiqa Gabbi, and Executive Producer Dipa De Motwane, along with Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Prime Video and moderator Smriti Kiran.

Sharing deeply personal stories and experiences, the participants discussed the challenges faced by women professionals in the industry, be it in films, streaming, or television – covering aspects such as conscious and unconscious biases, gender stereotyping, safety, sanitation for women and much more. 

The presence of two of the most talented and revered female actors – Asha Parekh and Tanuja – who have seen the industry evolve over the years, made the session even more insightful.  From touching upon the era when the term ‘superstar’ was often reserved for male actors, when very few stories and characters depicted women at the forefront, to a time and age when women have finally started speaking about the issues that matter to them, the latest session of Maitri was a holistic discussion that brought to the fore issues that concern women across all age groups.  

Actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Wamiqa Gabbi, who play lead characters in Amazon Original series ‘Jubilee’, offered their perspectives and experiences of working in the modern-day film industry. Producer of the show, Dipa De Motwane, who has been part of this industry for a long time, threw a fresh perspective on how the work situation for women in cinematography, production, technical areas of filmmaking, etc., has changed over time. She also elaborated upon the opportunities being created for female talent, in front of, as well as behind the scenes, to grow and prove their mettle. 

The discussion was underpinned by the respect and camaraderie the attendees demonstrated, as they collectively agreed that to power the growth of the industry, it is imperative to have more women in decision-making roles, who in turn can ensure wider and more equitable work opportunities for women across the helm, and create an environment that is safe and secure for women to pursue their dreams unequivocally.

Prime Video is deeply committed to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within its content and productions, as well as with its partners in the creative community. With Maitri: Female First Collective, Prime Video aims to raise awareness of the pivotal role women play within the entertainment industry.