Zoya Akhtar talks about importance of consensual intimacy on-screen; says ‘Grew up at a time where women were…’

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Zoya Akhtar talks about importance of consensual intimacy on-screen; says 'Grew up at a time where women were...'

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for cinema and women empowerment, I admire Zoya Akhtar’s journey in the Hindi film industry. Her bold stance on consensual intimacy in films is commendable, especially considering that she grew up witnessing the objectification of women characters on-screen.

In 2009, Zoya Akhtar first stepped into directing with the film “Luck By Chance,” which starred her brother Farhan Akhtar, an actor-filmmaker. Since then, she has directed various other movies such as “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” “Gully Boy,” and “The Archies.” Through her work, Zoya has established a unique identity within the Hindi film industry. The director of “ZNMD” recently spoke out about the significance of consensual intimacy in films, noting that as a child, she witnessed female characters being mistreated and abused on screen.

In the latest chat on Expresso from Indian Express, I, an ardent fan, found myself captivated by Zoya Akhtar’s insights on the topic of cinema censorship. She passionately advocated for the freedom to portray physical intimacy without censorship. Moreover, she emphasized the significance of depicting consensual intimacy in both films and streaming platforms.

In her words, she recounted her upbringing when portrayals of women on screen often involved bullying, violence, harassment, and sexual assault, while any form of affection or adult intimacy was strictly forbidden. However, the filmmaker emphasized that it’s crucial for viewers to experience depictions of love, tenderness, and physical closeness between two consenting adults in films.

In simpler terms, during the conversation, Zoya’s dad, renowned screenwriter-lyricist Javed Akhtar shared his unique viewpoint. Specifically discussing love scenes, he pointed out that portraying them to arouse interest and create genuine emotions and empathy is quite distinct from doing it merely to provoke excitement.

Speaking about his past, the screenwriter of Deewar admitted that he personally avoids using four-letter profanities during anger. Yet, when he saw these words used in Bandit Queen, he found no issue with it because it wasn’t meant to shock or arouse the audience.

In the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, during a road trip with friends Kabir Dewan and Imraan Qureshi, I found myself in a moment where I shared a kiss with Arjun, played by Hrithik Roshan, as Katrina Kaif’s character Laila. Among Zoya Akhtar’s other notable works are Dil Dhadakne Do, Lust Stories, Ghost Stories, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and many more.

In the docu-series titled “Angry Young Men,” which aired on Amazon Prime Video on August 20, 2024, Zoya made an appearance. This series centered around the lives of Salim-Javed, the influential screenwriting duo who dominated Hindi cinema during the 1970s. The series also starred Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaya Bachchan, in addition to Zoya.

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2024-08-29 20:53