Imtiaz Ali's burqa remark sparks row:Filmmaker says 'Being comfortable in a burqa is a sign of a backward society'

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, currently in the spotlight for his upcoming project ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga,’ has sparked a heated social media debate with his candid remarks on the burqa and purdah. Speaking on the podcast ‘Unfiltered with Samdish,’ Imtiaz Ali expressed strong disapproval of the notion that women are "comfortable" wearing a burqa or practicing purdah. He argued that finding comfort in such restrictions is indicative of a backward society and points to deep-seated, internalised victimisation. While Imtiaz clarified that this is strictly his personal belief and he has no intention of policing others' choices, his comments have ignited intense discussion. Beyond this, the director also lamented the growing polarisation in modern discourse. He questioned the disappearance of moderate, balanced thinkers in today's highly polarised political and social landscape, emphasising that differing opinions should not breed hatred. Ultimately, Imtiaz Ali's reflections highlight a dual concern: the subtle ways societal oppression is normalised, and the urgent need for nuance and tolerance in an increasingly extreme world. Debate erupts over Imtiaz Ali's statement After Imtiaz Ali's statement about the burqa came to light, he has been heavily criticised on social media. Some social media users have questioned whether Imtiaz Ali himself comes from a society where the burqa practice exists. At the same time, some are calling him a hypocrite. One user wrote, ‘Imtiaz Ali described the practice of burqa/purdah as weak, backward thinking, and problematic. But this Samdish is defending it, saying that if a community has accepted it as normal, how can we question it? Imtiaz himself comes from the same community. Wow. What hypocrites they are.’ A user wrote, "The biggest enemies of Muslims are these liberal people, because they avoid criticising their wrongdoings or shortcomings." Imtiaz's film was called anti-national The film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', directed by Imtiaz Ali, was released in cinemas on 12 June. This film is based on an incomplete love story from the India-Pakistan partition, which many people are calling anti-national. On this, the film's music composer AR Rahman also reacted with a laugh. This film, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari Wagh, and Naseeruddin Shah, has collected ₹14 crore in its first week of release. Film received praise from Pakistan Pakistani filmmaker Umar Nasir Ali highly praised the film Main Vaapas Aaunga, calling it a very beautiful and deeply emotional film. According to Umar Nasir, this film is very close to his heart because he himself is also making a film around the same subject. About Imtiaz Ali-