Imtiaz Ali recalls Alia Bhatt shooting for Highway without a proper vanity van, safety on sets: ‘When she had to change, answer nature’s call…’

During a panel discussion at IFFI 2024, Imtiaz Ali said that he had to remove crew members thrice in his career, spanning almost 20 years, for not behaving properly.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Nov 21, 2024 06:25 PM IST

Imtiaz Ali at IFFI 2024.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently reflected on the portrayal of gender in cinema and how to make film sets safe for women. Imtiaz averred that he has seen a ‘profound level of respect’ for women on Hindi film sets. The director also cited that he had to remove crew members thrice in his career, spanning almost 20 years, for not behaving properly. He was speaking at the International Film Festival of India in Goa while participating in a panel discussion with actors Bhumi Pednekar and Vani Tripathi.

“There have been three times in my entire life that I’ve sent people (crew members) back, from different places, from different sets. I am happy that it’s only three. I remember once it happened on the sets of Highway. We were shooting on the rural highway with Randeep and Alia and there were no proper vanity vans back in 2013. Alia had to change, 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. So yes, it did happen with me as a filmmaker thrice, but not anymore. Times have changed, changed drastically. Actresses are really safe on the sets. It’s not like that anymore,” Imtiaz said.

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He added, “The film industry in Bombay is remarkable for the way it treats its women and I, as a man, have noticed this. If there are 200 people working in a unit, it is a very safe space for women.”

Imtiaz Ali also mentioned how comfortable Kareena Kapoor was while Jab We Met crew worked around her, calling her ‘a kid of the film industry’.

“For instance, there was a shot in Jab We Met when the cameraman said that I need 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 crew members finished putting the light on. She said that I will keep lying there and they can just put the light on. Three men went up and put it while standing on the lower berth where she was lying down. I asked her, ‘Are you sure and comfortable?’ She didn’t understand what my problem was. She said, ‘Abhi kon utrega aur phir chadhega!’ And 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,” Imtiaz explained.

Navya Kharbanda

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events. Experience & Professional Background Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include: The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam. Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah. Expertise & Focus Areas Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth. Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era. On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan. South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera. Authoritativeness & Trust Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More

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