<p>Shrayana Bhattacharya is an economist, writer and author of <em>Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence</em>. In this interview with Manisha Pande, she talks about how she captured the lives of young women across India and their struggles through the prism of economics, data and a common love for Shah Rukh Khan.</p><p>Shrayana explains why she chose SRK as a research tool and what it told her about the aspirations of women across geographies. In a country where women are disproportionately overworked, underpaid and unloved, she says the idea of SRK pushed women to access markets they weren't previously exposed to. "The word 'middle-class' entered their dictionary because they used to listen to him in award shows," she says.</p><p>Shrayana talks at length about marriage as the prime ambition among millennials and how the economy defines that choice. She also discusses the hate towards SRK, how he bridged social classes, and how he redefined masculinity for both men and women.</p><p><em><strong>Listen to the interview here:</strong></em></p>
<p>Shrayana Bhattacharya is an economist, writer and author of <em>Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence</em>. In this interview with Manisha Pande, she talks about how she captured the lives of young women across India and their struggles through the prism of economics, data and a common love for Shah Rukh Khan.</p><p>Shrayana explains why she chose SRK as a research tool and what it told her about the aspirations of women across geographies. In a country where women are disproportionately overworked, underpaid and unloved, she says the idea of SRK pushed women to access markets they weren't previously exposed to. "The word 'middle-class' entered their dictionary because they used to listen to him in award shows," she says.</p><p>Shrayana talks at length about marriage as the prime ambition among millennials and how the economy defines that choice. She also discusses the hate towards SRK, how he bridged social classes, and how he redefined masculinity for both men and women.</p><p><em><strong>Listen to the interview here:</strong></em></p>