Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali reflected on his upbringing and the contrasting portrayals of gender in cinema during a recent discussion at the ongoing IFFI in Goa. He shared how his experiences growing up surrounded by strong women, including his mother, shaped his perspective as a filmmaker.
During an event Imtiaz said, "When I was growing up, I observed the world around me—my mother, my relatives, neighbors, and others. Then, I saw the world of cinema. On the big screen, there were these beautiful women and men who behaved in a certain way. My life, and the people I knew, felt a little different from the world I saw in films.
"When I became a filmmaker, two things happened. First, I began writing about the life I had experienced, particularly the kind of women I grew up around. For example, in my household, there were power battles between my father and mother. But those were between two individuals, and each had an equal chance of winning. 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."
He continued, "As a kid, I don’t think I ever thought about men and women being equal or unequal because, to me, women were always special. I was more attracted to them; that much was clear. But there was never a question of unequal dignity.
"My journey has taken me through small towns, big cities, theater in Delhi, and finally into movies. 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. Of course, there are women here who may either support or challenge my view, but I’ve personally noticed this as a man. The industry is, by and large, a very safe space for women," he added.
He expressed admiration for the film industry in Mumbai, stating that it generally provides a safe environment for women. He explained this with a story from 'Jab We Met', where actress Kareena Kapoor felt comfortable lying down on set while the crew adjusted lighting around her. The filmmaker said, "For instance, let me give you an example from one of my movies. There was a shot in
'Jab We Met' where the lighting had to be set up. At the last moment, the cameraman said, ‘Oh no, I need a light there, and I need a little cut or something.’ The shot involved the top berth, where the girl had to go and lie down, mumbling in her sleep. Initially, the cameraman wasn’t planning to put a light on top like that, but he changed his mind at the last moment. So, Kareena was lying there, and I told her, ‘Come down, let him finish. This guy will come and set up the light.’"
He added, "Now, Kareena is a child of the film industry. She understands the ethics of shooting much better than I do. She said, ‘No, no, I'll just stay here. They’ll come up and set the light.’ So, there she was, lying on the top berth while three men stood on the lower berth setting up the light and the cutter. I looked at her and asked, ‘Kareena, are you sure?’ She didn’t even understand my concern. She said, ‘Yeah, it’s fine,’ and I thought to myself, ‘Wow, do you realize what just happened here?’
"She felt completely safe. 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. Countless times, we’ve had situations where women are lit for a shot, surrounded by mostly male crew members—lightmen, property handlers, and others. Even back then, there were very few women in such roles. Yet, nobody would look at a woman inappropriately.
"The general attitude of the film industry in Bombay, at least at that time, was such that women were treated with respect, even when the opportunity for misconduct might arise. It’s something I’ve always noticed and appreciated. But I say it’s unfortunate now because of what’s been happening recently—the scandals, the misconduct. It’s heartbreaking to see this shift," he concluded.