Our first panel discussion was held in the month of August 2024 on the topic, “Portrayal of women in Indian cinema and on OTT platforms: Has anything changed for the better?” The panelists were international award winning film and OTT series producer and director Sejal Shah (Decoupled, Serious Men, Asur, Asur2, Delhi Crime Season2, Hasmukh Pighal Gaya), who is also the Co-Founder of Bombay Fables, creator writer and advertising producer Samina Motlekar (Call Me Bae, C.I.D. and A Mosquito In The Ear), director and writer Mitakshara Kumar (co-director – Heeramandi, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, The Empire), and creator writer Nikhil Nair (Dahan, Serious Men, Table No 5, Nyay, Stepsons). The discussion was moderated by Creative Producer with Soda Films Prapti Doshi Moorthy (Dabaang, Dabaangg2, Partner, Main Aur Mrs. Khanna, For Your Eyes only).

The discussion was so engaging that it continued well beyond the stipulated time. The writers, directors and producers were frank and forthcoming and interacted with the Only women members during the discussion. They fielded questions like, “Do you keep an actor in mind when you write a character?”, “Why are all aspiring actors not able to reach you during the casting time?”, “Do you get bullied by the producer in giving a direction to the storyline?”, etc. The panelists and the Only Women members were both so happy with the discussion that it was decided we will need one more panel discussion to take the conversation ahead.