Hours after Imtiaz Ali made a bizarre comment about women’s safety in cinema by sharing anecdotes, the filmmaker retracted his foot-in-the-mouth comment.

Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who propelled Alia Bhatt to overnight fame with the film, Highway, recalled an incident when the film was being shot in a village and the team had no access to vanity vans and other amenities.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali spoke about the safety of women on film sets during his appearance at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. He recalled firing a crew member from the set of his film Highway due to inappropriate behavior towards Alia Bhatt, who played the lead role.

Highway is a 2014 drama film written and directed by Imtiaz Ali. The film stars Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. The film received praise for its cinematography, plot line and brilliant acting skills.

Imtiaz Ali initially envisioned an older actress for the lead role in Highway due to its mature themes. Although hesitant at first, Alia Bhatt's grace and emotional depth as an actor convinced Imtiaz to cast her.

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently spoke about women’s safety on set and the issue of casting couch in Bollywood at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Filmmaker Vinta Nanda publicly slammed the Rockstar director for his comments on sexual harassment.

Imtiaz Ali shared an incident when a crew member snooped around Alia Bhatt when she was changing dress, after which he had to take a strict call against him.

Imtiaz Ali's Highway, starring Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt, is considered one of the finest films to date, with its stunning visuals set against picturesque landscapes. Recently, the director spoke about the challenges faced during the shoot,