Actresses should make informed choices on item numbers: Shabana

Veteran actress-social activist Shabana Azmi Sunday said actresses should make "informed" choices on accepting item numbers as such sequences lead to sexualisation of children.

"I am saying let it be an informed decision. I am not going to dictate this is what you should do. But be aware that when you do a song like that it is leading to the sexualisation of children and there are four-year-old girls dancing at all kinds of weddings to really really bad songs.

"So be vigilant of the fact that this is leading to the sexualisation of children and if this is something that you would like to do... make your own choice but make sure it is an informed choice," she said at a special session of the Kolkata Literary Meet here to a query on responsibility of actresses while doing item numbers.

Shabana also batted for "self-regulation" on part of the film industry but also stressed one can't surrender to the moral brigade.

"Self-regulation is very important for the film industry. It is a very thin ice because if you start saying this is wrong... this item number is wrong then tomorrow the moral brigade will say don't wear this... don't do this. You can't surrender to the moral brigade... so whatever comes must come from yourself... ," she added.