Reportedly, few days ago, Imtiaz Ali's Highway was denied a Doordarshan telecast by the Censor Board because of its depiction of child sexual abuse. This created a furore in the Censor Chief Pahlaj Nihalani's circle since Doordarshan has its own elaborate guidelines for telecasting content, which are issued by them from time to time.
Alia plays the character Veera in the film who was sexually abused at a very young age by her Uncle.
Buzz is, Alia has not taken this 'rejection' lightly.
SpotboyE.com felt that the need of the hour is to speak with Alia and find out what she feels about this whole episode.
When contacted, Alia made it loud and clear that she's rooting for Highway to be telecast on Doordarshan.
The 22-year old actress explained: "Doordarshan has a family audience which is sensitive to a certain type of cinema. I definitely get that. But there's a side to me which believes that child sexual abuse does happen, and mind you, to not only girls but boys as well. There is a world out there which every child should know; it would only protect him/her. More often than not, children don't know what's happening with them when they are being abused (sexually). Educating them might just help."
Added Alia, "Let's get this straighter. Isn't this (child sexual abuse) the reason why every parent keeps telling his/her child that he/she should not talk to strangers? And the children keep asking why they should not. Shouldn't kids be provided answers?"
We got you, Alia. In few words all right, but you have made it clear that Highway should be screened on Doordarshan.
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