For more than three decades, Malaika Arora has remained the ultimate icon of grace, fitness and style in the entertainment industry. In a powerful new interview, Arora called out the patriarchal mindset that constantly scrutinizes women, noting that questions of desirability are rarely addressed to men.
Malaika Arora on the aging gender gap
In an appearance on The Right Angle podcast, Malaika Arora highlighted the stark difference in how society and the media treat aging men and aging women. As Arora points out, while men are allowed to age without explanation, women are constantly forced to “monitor” their attractiveness levels.“What I find interesting is that women are constantly asked these questions about age, beauty and desirability, while men rarely face 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 addressed to men,” Arora said.Coming to the evolution of her appearance, Malaika insists that her motivation comes from within, beyond the “chiseled” image the world sees on screen or on social media.“For me, it’s never 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. What drives you, what motivates you to get out of bed every morning and take advantage of the day,” said Arora.
Malaika Arora on challenging the age narrative
One of Malaika Arora’s strongest points was praise criticism. She called for a change in conversation where a woman’s status or success is not categorized by her age.“‘She looks amazing for her age’, ‘She’s so fit for her age’, why is age always the headline? I was me then, I’m me now, and twenty years from now I’ll still be me, because I feel good, I feel strong and I feel full,” Arora said.At 52, Malaika Arora says she is by no means done. He describes his current phase as “first,” driven by his desire to build a lasting impact for his family and his own sense of fulfillment.“I don’t wake up thinking, ‘I look good today.’ That’s not how most women work. We wake up trying to create something meaningful, contribute, build something and leave 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 good shape, and I’m still hungry to do a lot more,” said Arora.Ending on an empowering note, the entrepreneur and yoga enthusiast encouraged women to stop apologizing for their age and embrace their journeys with pride.“I think women everywhere should wear that confidence like a badge of honor, unapologetically. We should celebrate ourselves, our journeys and everything we continue to be,” Arora concluded.
Malaika Arora in the field of work
Malaika Arora was recently seen as a judge on the latest season of a leading dance reality show.
