Another Salman Khan film is in the theatres and will likely become a bumper hit. Kick, that stars actress Jacqueline Fernandez as a young psychiatrist, is a study in the bizarre, mainly because, among other things, the makers probably have never been in touch with a real psychiatrist.
26 Hindi movies released between January 2001 and March 2010 portraying 33 psychiatrists in a main or a secondary (but significant) roles, according to an article that appeared in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry.
Dressed in demure, yet chic western outfits most of the times, coupled with perfectly straightened (or curled, as the occasion demanded) hair, the character was not averse to falling in love with a person who can easily be called an 'adrenaline junkie'.
We spoke to Dr Sneha Joshi (name changed on request) a Pune-based psychiatrist who specialises in addiction psychiatry, on how closely Fernandez played her role.
"One of the key things that I have learned over the years is to keep a clear distinction between my work and family or 'me' time," she says. "I have learned this from bitter experience," she laughs, adding "As a student, I would develop symptoms for every single disease/disorder that we happened to be studying."
Fernandez, playing Dr Shaina Mehra, vehemently dislikes Salman Khan's character Devi in the film.
"As psychiatrists, we are taught not to take a sudden dislike towards anyone," Dr Joshi says. Shania or 'psycho', as she is fondly referred to Devi gets drunk, does Jennifer Lopez-esque splits, and even takes her ex-boyfriend out from a hospital where he's recuperating, to her house.
"Taking a patient out of a secluded, clinical environment -- be it her ex-boyfriend or anyone else -- can be highly dangerous, both for the patient, as well as the doctor," she says.
If you want more proof of how unrealistic the portrayal of psychiatrists is in Bollywood, the article in Asian Journal of Psychiatry begins by noting, "Hindi movies depicted psychiatrists as most likely to be male, middle-aged, and friendly in their attitude towards the patients."
"Now, this is stereotyping," Dr Joshi says emphatically.
But here's the real problem. The article elucidates the inconsistencies and transgressions that the psychiatrists in Bollywood display:
1) 42.4 per cent of psychiatrists depicted in Bollywood were clinically incompetent.
2) Only 30.3 per cent could make an accurate diagnosis
3) 39.4 per cent of them breached professional ethics
4) 24.2 per cent transgressed non-sexual boundaries
5) 15.2 per cent violated both sexual and non-sexual boundaries
6) Treatment outcome was depicted positive in only 23.1 per cent of the movies analysed
7) The most common clinical/treatment setting was outpatient (53.8 per cent), and pharmacotherapy was the most common treatment modality used.
"Producers do not hesitate to go abroad to shoot a dream sequence. But they do not visit a psychiatrist in their city to discuss the rationale of a dream sequence and its psychological analysis and implications," Dr Vinay Kumar said in an interview to the Hindustan Times.
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