Women on top

Bipasha Basu insists Corporate is a must-watch for all women. We explore what it’s like for the present day working woman.
Smartly suited, hair pulled back, focussed and ready to prove herself that's Bipasha Basu in Corporate — Madhur Bhandarkar's take on the corporate world. According to her, the film's about a woman who stands tall in a man's world."Every woman should see Corporate. They will identify with the film,"Bipasha said in a recent interview.
The challenge
BPO head Lathika Pai says the challenge for women in the corporate world, especially those with a family, is in finding the right balance.
"It's purely personal: how much you want to push and give up to stay at the top, especially if you have to worry about worklife balance,"she says.
Actor Lillete Dubey, also in Corporate, agrees that the one thing that doesn't change is the constant juggling act women do.
"Men never have to sacrifice family life."Lillete adds that sometimes, it can lead to an ego clash. "When the woman goes ahead of her partner, it could screw up the relationship. Even otherwise, men aren't very comfortable with women calling the shots,"she says, adding that some of this has also been touched upon in Corporate.
Up the ladder
Industry bigshot Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw says it's a tough climb to the top, but, "over the years, corporate women have found greater acceptance,"she says.
Says Lathika, "Now there are more women in leadership roles. Also many men have spouses who work, which results in a supportive acceptance."Kiran adds that if you are Boss, gender is less of an obstacle.
"But men who are competing with women may be nasty in terms of gender-based comments when they lose out,"she says.
The strength of a woman
Don't change the way you act or dress, just because you're a woman, believes Rakhee Lalwani, sales and marketing GM of a hospitality firm.
"A woman has to retain her feminity. There's no need to be overaggressive."Even Kiran adds, "I've always been myself."Lathika says when women get aggressive, it brings about a negative reaction. She adds, "There have been times when I have had to take tough business decisions where I have been told I need to be 'gentler'.
I'm not sure my male colleagues would get the same advice."But being an attractive woman in a man's world does help, believes Lillete. "It depends on how you're using it. If someone offers to stand in queue for you because you're attractive, why not!"
Corporate women in films
From Working Girl to Disclosure to Desperate Housewives, is that how working women are? "Our work days aren't as exciting as portrayed in movies,"says Lathika. Kiran adds, "I'm sure much is reflective of what women have to contend with in the workplace, but a lot is exaggerated."
Director's take
Madhur Bhandarkar's spoke to BT about Corporate Why Corporate: The corporate world is big in India now, especially with the increased foreign investment.
Business in films: In Hollywood, films like Wall Street or The Boiler Room which look at the nitty gritty, the ups and downs of the corporate world. This is my take on it.
But my film has an emotional code. It's about oneupmanship, ambition, among other things. Women in the corporate world: People say women in the corporate world are strong and dominating.
I've interpreted them my way. Bipasha's character is organised, straight-forward and focussed.