Asha Parekh says she doesn't understand why Indian women wear western dresses for weddings, 'even if they are fat'

Asha Parekh spoke about how films have evolved over time, and said we are not showcasing our own culture enough.

Asha Parekh has said that she finds it hurtful that Indian women prefer to wear western dresses and gowns for their weddings instead of the traditional dresses such as ghaghra-choli. Asha was speaking at a session at the ongoing 53rd International Film Festival of India in Goa. ()

Three classics of Asha Parekh are being screened during the IFFI 2022.

Asha said, “Everything has changed (since the time when she worked in films). The films that are being made are …I do not know, we are so westernised. gowns pehen k wedding pe aa rahi hain ladkiyan. Arre bhaiya, humari ghaghra choli, saariyan aur salwar-kameez hai aap wo pehno na (Dear, we have ghaghar-choli, salwar-kameez and sarees, wear those).”

She added, “Why dont you wear those? They just watch the heroines on the screen (and wish to copy them). Screen pe dekh ke wo jo kapde pehen rahe us tarah ke kapde hum bhi pehnenge …mote ho, ya jo, hum wahi phnenge. Ye western ho raha hai mujhe dukh hota hai (They just want to wear the clothes they see heroines wearing onscreen. Even if they are fat or whatever, they do not care if the clothes will look good on them, whether they are fat or anything. I get hurt when I see this westernisation). We have such great culture, dance and music we could get it all back in pop culture.”