Twinkle Khanna: Feminism is about gender equality, not men-hating women with a moustache

Twinkle Khanna, over the years, has carved her identity as an outspoken, independent woman who is her own person, not attached to the influence or image of her star husband Akshay Kumar. She is also known as a voracious reader plus writer, and her recently released book of short stories The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad has been a big hit with critics and readers alike.

In her recent appearence at Times LitFest 2016, Twinkle spoke about starting off as a reader at an early age and how reading was a favourite habit of her father, late actor Rajesh Khanna as well.

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"My father was very fond of reading. It was something we did at our home. I don't think it fits the way people think Bollywood works, but that's who we are. By the time I was in my teens, I was reading science fiction. I had this maternal uncle who had cartons of books. It's important to read because you have to fill your head with words," Twinkle Khanna was quoted as saying by Times of India .

Oops typo - have just begun and am already hooked #thesellout #PaulBeatty pic.twitter.com/6RoeXJD58N Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) November 28, 2016

The 41-year-old actor-turned-writer and interior designer also said that her father Rajesh Khanna's astrologer had predicted that his daughter would become a writer but sadly, she never took to writing while her father was alive.

"My father believed in astrology. His astrologer had predicted that his daughter would become a writer someday. My father would nag me, but I didn't write a word till he passed away. I wish he could see me now," said Twinkle.

Speaking on feminism, she spoke about a male character in her latest book The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad who is as feminist as people would like to think of a woman as one.

"When women talk about feminism, people nod. In my latest book, there's a male character who goes on to make cheap sanitary pads and a machine for manufacturing them," she said.

Twinkle also criticised the idea that negative stigma is attached to basic bodily functions like menstruating.

"We treat things as very sacred or attach lots of myths to it, which put women at a disadvantage. There is a temple near my house which bears a board, 'Menstruating women not allowed'. I mean, these are bodily functions. Such thoughts need to be dispelled," Twinkle said.

Last but not the least, Twinkle said that the idea that feminists are aggresive misandrists is not true and that anybody thinking so "would be bit of an idiot."

"People feel feminists are aggressive, men-hating women with a little moustache. I think it's got a bad reputation because when feminism came into being, we were facing so much opposition that we had to be strident and aggressive. It's not the case anymore. Today, it's about gender equality, not neutrality. Anyone who doesn't agree would be a bit of an idiot," Twinkle signed off.

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