Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's Burqa Remarks Spark Debate, Links Purdah to 'Victimisation'

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali sparked debate by calling purdah a sign of victimisation and social backwardness during a podcast. He argued that women claiming comfort in burqas may reflect deep-rooted conditioning rather than free choice. While some praised his critique of patriarchy, others accused him of undermining women's agency. Ali clarified his views were personal opinions, not calls for imposition, and stressed the need for tolerance amid growing societal polarisation.