Whether it be a Dilip Kumar or a Raj Kapoor, a Randhir or a Sanjay Dutt-all of them have two convenient sets of values-one that is applicable to themselves and the other that pertains to their women. This divide between what a man can do and what a woman “should” do is to be seen in the way relationships are made and projected, both off and on screen. And among this pompous male chauvinist conglomeration are to be seen types and types of male chauvinist pigs! Some like Randhir Kapoor are blatantly so. Others like Gulzar and Dilip Kumar hide their double standards in a grab of sophistication-these are the most dangerous of the tribe because people emulate and look upon them as demi-gods. And there are those MCPs who are chauvinists without deliberately wanting to be so; these are products of the set-up, conditioned to thinking in a particular fashion and who have become McPs unconsciously, without even realizing it. Sanjeev, the most eligible bachelor around, falls into the third category. Himself a heavy smoker and drinker, he admits that when he sees a cigarette in a woman’s hand his first impression of her is a negative one. He cannot explain the logic of this reaction. ‘I know that there are girls like Tanu (Tanuja) and Sharmila who smoke and yet they are women with strong personalities. You wouldn’t think of them as being frivolous or easy to take advantage of. I respect and admire them.” But examples like these don’t help in wing out the norms that have developed through social conditioning. Sanjeev revealed that most men tend to think in this warped fashion. “At a party if a man is attracted to a woman and she accepts his offer of a drink he feels that she will be easier to get,” he said frankly. It’s difficult to understand how men have vowed such a convenient logic. As Zeenat declared, “It is right and pretty to associate loose morality with a woman just because she openly has a drink or relaxes with a cigarette.” Most of the men who make an issue of their wives working have a very convenient excuse: ‘A woman is basically a housewife. She must look after the home and children.’ The corollary they don’t add but avidly believe in is, “My wife must stay in the house so that I don’t have any responsibilities towards it. I am free to have a roving eye and a gala time outside.” I would like to ask all those husbands like Amitabh, Rajesh and Gulzar who marry talented, beautiful women and then lock them up inside their citadels, supposedly to keep the home-front strong. Rajesh is creating a big fuss about Dimple’s joining films, but how much time did he spend with his wife and kids? Even as a young bride Dimple had to put up with his drinking bouts and innumerable flings. Gulzar separated from Raakhee on a similar issue. But may one ask him whether he stopped makings eyes at pretty women after his marriage? And if we were to ask him to stop writing all those lyrical lines and plagiarized stories what would he do to while away his hours? Wouldn’t he feel stifled curbing his creative talents? Why didn’t he bring a “dehati” bride from Ludhiana or Patiala, who would be only too happy sitting at home, making makke ki roti? Why did he have to fall in love with a talented actress and then determine to suppress the very talent that first attracted him? Amitabh’s wife (who was brought out of the closet when her husband’s career needed a boost) was not only too happy promoting his career and helping him reach his superstar position, but she was also happy to give up films herself and content herself with bringing up his children, only to get hurt in return. Death had to threaten to intervene before Amitabh went back to his wife. And the way he has dropped his paramour of the last seven years is yet another indication of his inborn chauvinism. When it suited his fancy he got involved, wooed Rekha like an ardent lover, and when it got sticky and inconvenient dropped her like a hot potato. Rekha is not alone in being at the receiving end of such treatment. She has Asma to keep her company, if that’s any consolation. When Dilip found he couldn’t have his cake and eat it too, he took the easiest way out.