Kamal Ghorui
For over three decades, Malaika Arora has remained a definitive icon of grace, fitness, and style in the entertainment industry. In a powerful new interview, Arora called out the patriarchal mindset that subjects women to constant scrutiny over their age and desirability questions she notes are rarely, if ever, directed at men.
Malaika Arora on the gender gap in aging
During an appearance on The Right Angle podcast, Malaika Arora highlighted the stark disparity in how society and the media treat aging men versus aging women. Arora noted that while men are allowed to grow older without explanation, women are forced to constantly “check-in” on their levels of attractiveness.“What I find interesting is that women are constantly asked these questions about age, beauty, and desirability, while men are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny. A woman is always expected to justify how she looks, ‘Do you still feel beautiful? Do you still feel desirable? How does it feel to be this age?’ These questions are almost never directed at men,” Arora opined.Addressing the evolution of her appearance, Malaika emphasized that her motivation comes from within, far beyond the “chiselled” image the world sees on screen or social media.“For me, it’s never been just about physical appearance. Of course, that’s what the world sees first, but there’s so much more. It’s about how you feel mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s about what drives you, what motivates you to get out of bed every morning and seize the day,” Arora said.
Malaika Arora on challenging the age narrative
One of Malaika Arora’s strongest points was the critique of backhanded compliments. She urged for a shift in dialogue where a woman’s fitness or success isn’t qualified by her age.“‘She looks amazing for her age,’ ‘She’s so fit at this age’, why is age always the headline? I was myself then, I am myself now, and I’ll continue to be myself twenty years from now because I feel good, I feel strong, and I feel fulfilled,” Arora stated.At 52, Malaika Arora insists she is nowhere near finished. She describes her current phase as her “prime,” fueled by a desire to build a lasting impact for her family and her own sense of fulfillment.“I don’t wake up thinking, ‘I look good today.’ That’s not how most women function. We wake up wanting to create, contribute, build something meaningful, and leave behind a legacy that our children and families can be proud of… I’m enjoying this phase of my life, I feel like I’m in my prime, and I’m still hungry to do so much more,” Arora stated.Ending on an empowering note, the entrepreneur and yoga enthusiast encouraged women to stop apologizing for their age and instead embrace their journeys with pride.“I think women everywhere need to wear that confidence like a badge of honour, unapologetically. We should celebrate ourselves, our journeys, and everything we continue to become,” Arora concluded.
Malaika Arora on the work front
Malaika Arora was recently seen as a judge on the latest season of a premier dance reality show.
