Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has stirred debate after making strong remarks about the burqa and purdah during a recent podcast interview. The director said he finds it troubling when women say they feel “comfortable” in a burqa or behind a veil, calling it a reflection of social backwardness and deep-rooted conditioning.
His comments, made during a conversation on the podcast Unfiltered by Samdish, have triggered sharp reactions on social media, with many debating whether his remarks challenge patriarchy or undermine women’s personal choices.
Imtiaz Ali Questions ‘Comfort’ in Burqa and Purdah
Speaking on the podcast, Imtiaz Ali said, “I don’t like when someone says, ‘I am comfortable in my burqa. I am comfortable in my parda.’ It’s a degenerate society if you feel like this. It’s not okay.”
He further said that such comfort may not always be a matter of personal choice but could be a result of social and mental conditioning.
“This means that you have been so victimised in your mind that it starts feeling normal,” he added.
The filmmaker linked the issue to patriarchy and the way societies shape women’s understanding of freedom and comfort.
“It’s Not About Stopping Anyone”
During the discussion, when the host pointed out that different communities have their own customs and traditions, Imtiaz clarified that he was not trying to interfere in anyone’s personal choices.
“It’s not about stopping anyone. I’m not going to someone’s house to explain my thinking,” he said.
He stressed that his comments were a personal opinion and not a call for imposing his views on others.
“If someone still wants to do it, that’s okay. But society needs tolerance and moderation,” he added.
Calls for Dialogue and Moderation
Imtiaz also spoke about the increasing polarisation in society and the lack of balanced conversations.
“My latest thought is — where have the moderates gone? Nowadays, everyone is at extremes. Dialogue has become difficult. I am not your enemy,” he said.
The filmmaker’s remarks have been seen by some as a wider criticism of rigid social structures, while others have accused him of dismissing the agency of women who choose to wear religious attire.
Imtiaz Ali in News for New Film
Apart from the controversy, Imtiaz Ali is also in the spotlight for his latest film Main Vaapas Aaunga, a Partition-era emotional drama starring Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari.
The film, set against the backdrop of the Partition of India in 1947, has received praise for its storytelling, music and performances. Though it had a slow start at the box office, reports say it has earned around ₹14 crore in its first week.
