From Ash to Katrina Kaif, Priyanka: 5 reasons actresses do item songs despite preaching feminism

Most big Bollywood actresses have some huge superhit item numbers to their credit. Be it Katrina Kaif’s Chikani Chameli, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Kajrare or Ishk Kameena, Madhuri Dixit’s Ghagra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas ’ Ram chahe leela or Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Mere photo ko seene se yaar.

While almost all these actresses always stress upon women's equality, and preach feminism and how women must never be objectified, it is surprising why they accept to perform items songs that objectify them as women or show them in a bad light with lyrics like “Main toh tandoori murgi hoon yaar’ or “Dekhane mein halwa hai.”

Big paychecks

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

For an item number, most of the actresses, especially highly established actresses are paid big paychecks. Reportedly, Samantha Ruth Prabhu was paid Rs. 5 crores for her item number Oo Antava in Pushpa: The Rise whereas the lead female actress Rashmika Mandanna received Rs 2 crore as remuneration for the entire movie.

Change of image

When an actress plays a role in a movie, she has to dress and act according to the character. However, after a few hits, the actresses are often restricted to doing the same thing and hence want to do something different or change their image. That can be one reason for doing an item number.

Making a comeback

When after a time the stardom of actresses diminish or they are not offered female leads anymore, they try to find ways to make a comeback. For example, after Shilpa Shetty stopped getting roles of leading lady she started focusing on her dancing and delivered a sexy number in Dostana with John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan .

Her image as a dancer has helped her to get a permanent job as an esteemed judge of leading dance reality shows on Indian television.

Stage performances

Apart from working in movies, actresses also earn huge money by performing in award functions or various stage shows abroad. So if they have a few hit item numbers under their kitty they are offered more opportunities and remunerations from the event organisers.

Madhuri Dixit

For the love of dance or as an experiment

Many leading ladies in movies do not get opportunities to do a typical dance number even though they would love to dance or experiment with dancing on the big screen. So many times these film beauties say yes just to try it for a change or even as a favor to the producer/director who has been friends for a long time.

For example, Raj Kumar Santoshi promised Mamta Kulkarni a leading role in China Gate for performing the famous item number “Koi Jaye Toh Le Aaye” in his earlier release Ghatak.