3 Times When Ekta Kapoor Proved She Is More Than Her Last Name

1. Ekta Kapoor And The Hum Paanch StoryIn her initial days of making pilots and approaching channels to stream the same, she came up with Hum Paanch, a show that changed her life. Based on satire and humour, the show was an instant hit. But there's a backstory to her success. When Ekta Kapoor, along with her mother, approached a channel with Hum Paanch, they offered her INR 10,000 saying, "this amount is enough for a girl." Sexism in business? Really?That's when she straight up rejected the offer and on her way back, she just dropped in the pilot tape of Hum Paanch to Zee and they graciously accepted it. What happened next is a history. Fast-forward to her K-drama daily soaps, she is known as the 'television queen' today.

2. Ekta Kapoor On Having A Female Boss At WorkplaceThe boss lady recently attended and spoke at Times Now, Indian Economic Conclave 2022 and was asked a question about having a female boss at work. The question went like - "When we talk about women having greater participation, does a woman being at the head of the affairs make it more inclusive? Men work like they are in a wolf pack. The boss gets ahead, everyone gets ahead. Does it also apply when a woman is leading the team?"Being the no-nonsensical persona she is, her answer won everyone's hearts and applause."I started working very young, and I had several situations to deal with. And one of them was being a young woman. Secondly, as a star kid, I was never taken seriously. What I found interesting was that 'The Big Boys' clubs existed everywhere. It is not a lie. It was always there. It is natural, I would say, for men to have an instant definity to their tribe. They can't crack jokes when women are around. So you automatically tend to hang with each other or probably have a drink with each other and that creates proximity that women don't have an access to. It was something I have seen throughout my life. But that's why I feel, representation is very important and women bosses are very crucial because when you have gone through it you don't want to subject anyone through it. Whereas sisterhood comes naturally to me. What matters more is to live beyond it. Having kids has made me far more understanding toward women who are mothers. I mean, I have a small crash in my office and when somebody tells me that they have to run home because their son is unwell, I know the feeling. It's a very identifiable thought process. It's a fear that I can immediately say, 'Please check, there are hand-foot diseases that I don't know about and now I get to know that. This is the same fear, when somebody had that fear I got that fear. And I am hyper contractual as a man, so it's a bigger problem. Understanding becomes far easier when you have representation of women in chairs or positions because the identification of the problem is more there. I sometimes feel that I might have misunderstood 'The Big Boys' club since it is natural for them to have that understanding. When a man has an issue, he tells the other guy, they both probably share a back-slapping moment! I have no problem with that club since I have the same equation with the women in my office. We can sit there and be like, shit! headache and this and that. So much understanding comes with your gender and then you learn to live beyond it too."

3. Conferring Ekta KapoorThe more you know about the director-prodcuer, the more you will agree that she is a woman of worth. Being awarded a Padma Shri, Ekta posed wuth grace and joy as she receieved the title. It doesn't happen everyday that someone makes their way through this cut-throat industry, especially when you're a women and surrounded by sexism. Kudos to you, Kapoor!We wish the boss lady a very happy birthday!