Casting Couch and Women’s safety in Bollywood: Imtiaz Ali opens up

Imitaz Ali opens up about cases of casting couch and women safety in Bollywood.

The Jab We Met director Imtiaz Ali made his debut as a director with the 2005 film Socha Na Tha, and since then, he has made several successful films.

After his debut as a director in 2005, he delivered several hits at the box office, like Jab We Met, Tamasha, Love Aaj Lal, Rockstar, Tamasha, and more. He is known for making films with gripping storylines, and his last directed Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra starrer Amar Singh Chamkila was highly appreciated and released on Netflix.

His two memorable films, Rockstar and Laila Majnu, written by Imtiaz Ali, were re-released in theaters and performed wonders at the box office as people stormed into the theaters for these two classics, which were initially a dud at the box office.

Imtiaz Ali sat down for a conversation at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and reflected on his upbringing, where strong and intelligent women surrounded him.

Consequently, when he became a filmmaker, he began writing stories from his life experiences, which also focused on those women like his mother, neighbor, etc.

Ali explained that the power dynamic between his parents in his household influenced his views on gender equality and relationships. "Gender didn't play a role in those dynamics. My mother is incredibly intelligent. We were always a little sad about how she could outsmart us every time. The women I grew up with—my sisters, friends, and teachers—were all very smart and inspiring."

Furthermore, he mentioned that he has always considered women to be "special." As he transitioned from small towns to cities and into the world of movies, he couldn't help but praise the dignified treatment of women in the Hindi film industry over the years.

Calling the Hindi film industry a safe place for women, he stated, "Believe me, the film industry in Bombay is remarkable in how it treats women. In a unit of 200 people, the level of respect and safety for women is profound."

Casting couch has been one of the pressing issues in Bollywood, and it has raised several questions about women's safety on sets.

Given this experience, Imtiaz Ali discussed the issue of the casting couch in Bollywood during a session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

He shared that there is a common perception that composing views or giving up on self-respect is a way to success in showbiz. But he noted that it's a wrong belief and a troubling societal perception.

Citing his two decades of experience as a director, the filmmaker said, "A girl comes in, she's scared, and she feels the need to compromise. Let me tell you if a woman or girl cannot say 'no,' her chances of succeeding don't necessarily increase. It's not like if a girl compromises, she'll definitely get a role."

Ali further mentioned that it's important to prioritize self-respect and say a clear 'no' in such situations because it eventually shapes the perception of others towards that person in the industry. "If a girl can say 'no' and respect herself, only then will others respect her too. People like me and many others often think about whether we take someone seriously or not; we need to respect a person to cast her," he explained.

In this context, he cited an example from his time working with Kareena Kapoor Khan on Jab We Met, recounting how she felt safe around male crew during the shoot.

To emphasize his views, he recounted an incident while filming Jab We Met with Kareena Kapoor. He recalled that during one of the scenes, the actress lay on top of a berth while three men from the crew were arranging lights around her for the shot.

Concerned about her comfort, he asked if she was okay, but she didn't seem to understand his concern and lay there at ease. He mentioned, "There were three lightmen hovering around her, adjusting the lights, and she didn't feel the slightest discomfort. And this wasn't an isolated incident."

The Chamkila director highlighted how this incident showcases the deep respect for women in the Bombay film industry. Even in situations where things could potentially go wrong, they didn’t, and he appreciated that. However, he confessed to feeling heartbroken over recent cases of misconduct, scandals, and mistreatment of women in the film industry.

Casting couch is known to everyone, and it has been happening in all industries for ages. The #MeToo movement did bring a change, yet we still get to hear many more stories regarding the same. Recently, a Hema Committee report was also in the news regarding the same.