Imtiaz Ali reveals he fired a crew member from Highway set who were trying to be around Alia Bhatt

Imtiaz Ali recently opened about an incident on the set of his critically acclaimed film Highway, where he had to take a firm stand for the safety and comfort of actress Alia Bhatt. The filmmaker, during an interaction at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, recalled firing a crew member for inappropriate behavior towards Alia during the shoot.

The incident occurred in 2013 while shooting in remote locations for Highway. Imtiaz said, “We were shooting on the rural highway with Randeep and Alia, and there were no proper vanity vans back then.” Due to the lack of facilities, Alia often had to find unconventional locations to change or attend to nature’s call. It was during one of these moments that a crew member’s behavior raised alarms.

Imtiaz elaborated, “Alia had to change and go for nature’s call in different, unusual places. Once, I had to send this guy back from the set when he was trying to be around her during that time.” He made it clear that such behavior was unacceptable and acted promptly to remove the individual from the set.

The filmmaker emphasized that the safety of women on sets is non-negotiable. Reflecting on the industry’s progress over the years, Imtiaz shared that film sets have become much safer for women now. “Times have changed drastically. Actresses are really safe on sets now,” he assured. He credited the evolving attitudes in the film industry and the collective efforts of professionals to create a secure environment for everyone. “The film industry in Bombay is remarkable for the way it treats its women. With 200 people working in a unit, it is a very safe space for them,” Imtiaz added.

This wasn’t the only instance where Imtiaz had to intervene for the safety of his cast. He mentioned facing similar situations thrice in his career but assured that such occurrences have significantly decreased over the years. The incident on Highwayhighlights the importance of vigilance and swift action in maintaining a safe workspace, especially for female artists.

During the interaction, Imtiaz also shared a lighter anecdote from the set of Jab We Met, another one of his beloved films. He recalled how actress Kareena Kapoor felt completely at ease despite the unique challenges posed during the shoot. “There was a shot in Jab We Met when the cameraman said that I needed a light in the shot at the last moment. Kareena was ready for the shot and on the top berth in a railway compartment. She had to mumble in her sleep in the scene, and we needed extra lights on the berth. I asked her to come down until the crew members finished putting the light on,” Imtiaz recounted.

However, Kareena, in her characteristic witty manner, refused to comply, saying, “Abhi kaun utrega aur phir chadhega! (Who will come down and then climb up again?)” While Kareena’s response was humorous, Imtiaz emphasized that her comfort stemmed from feeling safe in the presence of the crew. “That’s because she felt so safe with those three men hovering over her to put the light. Nobody looked at her wrong in any way,” he explained.

Imtiaz’s experiences underline the strides the industry has made in ensuring the safety and respect of its artists. From addressing misconduct promptly to fostering a culture of mutual respect, filmmakers like him play a crucial role in setting standards on film sets.