Director and producer Vinta Nanda lashed out at director Imitaz Ali for his comments concerning the casting couch, questioning his knowledge on the subject.
At the International Film Festival of India, held in Goa, Ali said that a woman compromising herself for a chance in the film industry is a “myth”.
“I have been a director in the Hindi film industry for 15-20 years. I have heard a lot about the casting couch. 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...this belief that compromising will improve your chances in the film industry is a myth.”
Ali's comments did not sit well with Nanda, who took to her Instagram to bash the director. She questioned the IFFI's decision to have Ali speak on that hardships that women face in the entertainment industry and whether it was to “whitewash the truth”. She even added that if men stopped advocating a subject that they have no experience about, then people would see that “change is indeed taking place”.
Many took to the comment section to back Nanda. One user wrote, “I don't understand why systems don't let women speak for themselves in 2024. It's ridiculous,” while another commented, “Tone-deafness to another level! What silo is he living in!!!”.
Director and producer Vinta Nanda lashed out at director Imitaz Ali for his comments concerning the 'casting couch', questioning his knowledge on the subject.
At the International Film Festival of India, held in Goa, Ali said that a woman compromising herself for a chance in the film industry is a “myth”.
“I have been a director in the Hindi film industry for 15-20 years. I have heard a lot about the casting couch. 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...this belief that compromising will improve your chances in the film industry is a myth.”
Ali's comments did not sit well with Nanda, who took to her Instagram to bash the director. She questioned the IFFI's decision to have Ali speak on that hardships that women face in the entertainment industry and whether it was to “whitewash the truth”. She even added that if men stopped advocating a subject that they have no experience about, then poeple would see that “change is indeed taking place”.
Many took to the comment section to back Nanda. One user wrote, “I don't understand why systems don't let women speak for themselves in 2024. It's ridiculous,” while another commented, “Tone-deafness to another level! What silo is he living in!!!”.
