By: Veantha Naidoo

A controversial video featuring Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has raised many eyebrows as it questions the lifestyle choices and living conditions of women in India and around the world.

The video entitled, My Choice, has been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube and has been shared by actor Ashton Kutcher. It urges women to become empowered and to make their own decisions and choices in society.
In the video, 99 women from all walks of life recite phrases such as, “It is my choice to marry or not to marry”, and “It is my choice to have sex before marriage or to have sex outside of marriage”.

The two and a half minute video depicts an in-depth story of the social taboos that women face in the Indian culture.

Alicia Govender, a Business Economics Student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said, “The video made me understand that as an Indian woman in South Africa, I am given more opportunities to achieve my goals and dreams. I also commend the director of the video as it has sparked a controversy and this will in -turn result in more discussions regarding this issue”.

The director of the video Homi Adajania said on his Facebook page, “The intention of the film does not in any way advocate or promote the actions in the words and we all have to make choices in life after considering the consequences”.

He also added, “For those who think it is sexist or male-bashing, it is talking to a man with a caged-mind and not to liberated people out there who treat women with respect and equality”.

However the video has received mixed reactions from social media where viewers are expressing their distaste for the video.

Twitter user @hiraamna, posted, “The intent of the message is good, but badly made conveying that I am responsibility free, ethics free”.

Recently a BBC documentary, titled India’s Daughter, was banned in India as it highlighted the gang rape of a medical student that took place in 2012.

Esha Reddy, a teacher said, more videos and documentaries needed to be made to bring awareness about issues that affect women around the world.

She added “These videos can change people’s perceptions and outlook on the empowerment and upliftment of women and therefore spark a change in the world”.

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