POV: Why I relate to Sheila Ki Jawani now more than ever!

Sheila is a true feminist icon and we failed to recognise that sooner. Here’s why I feel the song has become my life motto now that I’m in my late 20s!

Growing up, all of us have danced to Sheila Ki Jawaani without actually decoding the lyrics. From Ganpati pandals to New Year’s Eve parties, Sheila Ki Jawaani became an outrage throughout the country during its release. One would think that we would have outgrown this song by now, but I’m happy to report that it's not happening anytime soon! We could let loose and dance to a hundred songs but when Sheila Ki Jawaani starts, as the internet likes to say, ‘hum sabke andar ki Katrina jaag jaati hai’. The song remains one of Katrina Kaif’s best till date.

The panache, the ease with which she dances while being her absolutely sexy self is absolutely unmatchable. But with changing times, my generation started looking at this song a bit differently. We went beyond the fact that it’s an item number and as we decoded the lyrics, we felt like Sheila was only spitting facts throughout the song. She was so sure of what she wanted and she promoted being a strong independent woman in an unconventional way, which is probably why it took us some time to wrap our minds around it. She is inspiring and she empowers me in a way that I didn’t know I needed. 

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Here’s why!

She believes in self pleasure

You don’t realize what the iconic line from the song ‘kisi aur ki mujhko zaroorat kya, mein toh khud se pyaar jataau’ means until you’re actually old enough to understand it. She basically means she doesn’t need anyone else to pleasure her when she can help herself quite well. To say that in a song when self pleasure wasn’t even talked about in India was a huge step. It's an important reminder to explore yourself the way you’d want to without having any shame attached to it. Sheila was too ahead of her times, IMO!

She has high standards and does not want to settle for less

‘Paisa, gaadi, mehenga ghar, I need a man who can give me all that. Jebein khaali fatichar, no no I don’t like him like that’ - She knows exactly what she wants in a partner and is firm enough to not settle for less. It’s not that she is saying she would live off him her whole life, but neither does she want someone who isn’t willing to do his part and bring money on the table. She believes and strives for that princess treatment and I relate hard!

She oozes self confidence and knows she’s worth it!

She knows "ain’t nobody got a body like Sheila", she knows she’s out of everyone’s league and she’s too good to be true. But that takes a lot of confidence and being secure in yourself to say that! She makes me want to walk into a room like I own it and shower myself with compliments the way she does!

She inspires me to feel sexy in my own body 

I don't think she ever intended to say that one looks good only if they have a slender body like hers. In a way, she pushed me to feel sexy in the body that I have right now. As a plus size woman in my 20s, I have often walked out of stores in tears because nothing fit me. But songs like this really push you to be secure and feel beautiful inside out. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious of how she looks in the song but as I grew older, I realized that it isn’t about reaching a far fetched body goal for me, it was about convincing myself that I can love myself just as I am right now.

She's the perfect reminder that life isn’t that serious - you just gotta let loose and dance sometimes

Years can pass but I’ll never stop shaking a leg to this song, there’s no way I can resist it! The choreography and her fun attitude in general throughout the song makes me just want to let loose on my tough days. She’s just the dopamine boost I need and I love her for that!

Are there any other songs that made you feel more confident about yourself? Let us know in the comments below!

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