Suhail Khan
In the picturesque valley of Kashmir, a new wave of young, ambitious women is breaking barriers and carving out their own paths.
From small-scale businesses to start-ups, acting, modeling, and entrepreneurship, these women are seizing opportunities and making their mark in a rapidly changing landscape.
Following the abrogation of Article 370, which granted a special status to the region, Kashmiri women are also venturing out to Mumbai, the hub of the Hindi film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, to try their luck in acting.
The path to success in Bollywood, the renowned Indian film industry, is frequently associated with nepotism and familial connections, as stated by industry insiders.
However, Mateena Rajput, a North Kashmir resident, is poised to make her mark with the highly anticipated release of her debut Bollywood film, titled “Welcome to Kashmir.
Mateena, after working in the Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi industries, makes her Bollywood debut.
Talking exclusively to The Web Story Muteena Rajput, said that she played a brave girl whose life is dedicated to women’s empowerment and fighting for their justice.
My role in the movie revolves around my passion to travel to every college and school for girls in our nation, inspire them with her talks, and provide them with safety advice.
She consistently thinks that women are more resilient than males, but because she is so easily defeated, she inevitably falls prey.
Mateena said that she is proud to be a Kashmiri, as she has worked on different platforms where she only represents Kashmir.
“If we try to look at Kashmir positively, I think it is extremely beautiful. We have to look Kashmir through the prism of positivity,” she added
She claimed that although Kashmir has undoubtedly been portrayed negatively in Bollywood films, particularly through promoting terrorism, she always attempts to portray her native country in a favorable light.
“As a Kashmiri artist, I am aware of my limitations and constantly carry the spirit of my homeland with me. Others may have their own preferences,” she added.
In the film “Welcome to Kashmir,” several significant issues are addressed, including the involvement of youth in drug use and the empowerment of women.
Additionally, the movie highlights the positive aspects of tourism and hospitality.
The film aims to portray the authentic image of Kashmir.
Notably, “Welcome to Kashmir” is a unique Bollywood Hindi feature film as it is produced and directed by Kashmiris themselves.
The movie is scheduled for release on May 26 in both Kashmir and throughout India.
The filmmaker behind this project hails from Sopore and considers it a dream venture.
