Filmmaker and writer Vinta Nanda has strongly criticized director Imtiaz Ali for his remarks on women's safety and the casting couch in the film industry during a session at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Vinta Nanda’s response came after Ali's comments, which she found to be dismissive and tone-deaf regarding the realities women face in the entertainment industry.
Imtiaz Ali, known for his films like Jab We Met and Highway, spoke alongside actors Bhumi Pednekar and Vani Tripathi about women’s safety on film sets.
When asked about the prevalence of the casting couch, Ali suggested that women’s chances of success in the industry were not necessarily higher if they compromised or gave in to pressure.
“Let me tell you, if a woman or girl cannot say ‘no,’ her chances of succeeding don’t necessarily increase,” he said, asserting that self-respect and the ability to refuse were paramount to gaining respect from others.
Imtiaz Ali also mentioned that actresses like Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan were examples of how women could feel safe on sets, pointing to his experience of addressing misconduct with the crew of Highway.
Ali recounted how he once fired a crew member for inappropriate behavior toward Alia Bhatt on the Highway set, and shared his belief that the times had drastically changed for actresses.
He emphasized that the film industry in Bombay, particularly on sets, was “remarkable for the way it treats its women,” and described film sets as “very safe spaces” with “200 people working in a unit.” He even highlighted an incident during the filming of Jab We Met, where Kareena Kapoor Khan felt comfortable despite the male crew members working around her.
However, Nanda took issue with Ali’s comments, particularly his assertion that women are safe in the film industry and that compromising doesn’t guarantee success.
On Instagram, Nanda expressed her frustration, writing, “Imtiaz Ali should stop pontificating about what women face in the entertainment industry. Naturally, a Kareena Kapoor is safe because she is privileged. And, he surely must know that the casting couch exists!” She called out Ali for being out of touch with the realities faced by many women in the industry who are not as privileged or protected as top stars like Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
Nanda also questioned the decision of IFFI to have Ali as a speaker on women’s issues, stating, “Why has IFFI Goa selected him to speak on behalf of women? Is it to whitewash the truth? If men like him had the courtesy to abstain from speaking on a subject they have no experience about, one will believe that change is indeed taking place.”
This sharp critique was accompanied by the caption, “It’s shocking to see reports of @imtiazaliofficial making all sorts of statements about women’s issues on an important industry platform like @iffigoa. With zero experience, he should have abstained from speaking instead.”
Vinta Nanda’s post clearly reflected her belief that Ali’s comments did not acknowledge the systemic problems that many women face in the film industry, particularly the casting couch — a term used to describe the exploitation of young women for sexual favors in exchange for film roles.
For Nanda, the industry's problems are not as easily swept away as Ali seemed to suggest, and her call for more authentic and informed discussions on women's safety and rights in the industry resonates deeply, especially given her own experience.
Vinta Nanda is no stranger to taking a stand on women’s issues.
She was one of the first prominent figures in the Indian film industry to accuse actor Alok Nath of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement in 2018. Nanda’s testimony and subsequent legal battle against Nath, which included a defamation suit filed against her by the actor, garnered widespread attention.
Nanda, however, did not back down and filed an FIR against Nath, alleging rape. Her brave stance in the #MeToo movement made her a key advocate for women's safety and justice in the industry, further fueling her critique of Ali’s remarks.
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