Javed Akhtar drew attention at the SOA Literary Festival 2025 by questioning the social reasoning behind women covering their faces. Speaking at a session organised by the Indian Performing Rights Society, he asked why a woman should feel ashamed of showing her face. His remarks focused on dignity, personal choice, and the influence of long-standing social norms.
Javed Akhtar Questions Burqa Practice
During an interaction with the audience, Akhtar said that modest dressing applies equally to men and women, but face covering goes beyond decency. He questioned what is considered improper about a woman’s face and described the practice as driven by social conditioning rather than individual freedom, urging reflection on how societal expectations shape personal choices.
नीतीश कुमार ने जो किया सही किया, चेहरा ढकने की क्या ज़रूरत – जावेद अख़्तर ( गीतकार और पटकथा लेखक) pic.twitter.com/IHPS5MnjCF
— Arvind Mohan Singh (@ArvindSinghUp) December 17, 2025
