Talk politely, sit with legs closed, don’t laugh too much, and the list goes on. Society never runs out of these rules when it comes to making a behaviour guide for women. Is a woman ever truly free? That’s what Imtiaz Ali’s movie Highway has continued to explore since its release in 2014. Veera Tripathi, a young woman, gets kidnapped by Mahabir Bhati just before her wedding. The hostage situation turns out to be a dreamy escape as the girl finds freedom in captivity. Veera becomes the spokesperson for every woman who has been wronged by patriarchy. Eleven years later, her words, actions and aspirations still resonate with women today. Here are some of Veera’s (Alia Bhatt) most famous dialogues from the movie Highway that represent the concerns of women.

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1. “No, I will not be sensible. I am stupid and I will remain stupid”

Veera’s family always asked her to live in a way that defined an ideal woman. She had to keep her voice low and agree with her parents in every situation. The opposite would be considered a violation which wasn’t normal in her elite family. However, she reached her limit when she could not put up a false act to appease society. Through this, Veera spoke for every woman who has been forced to follow societal norms to be ‘sensible’.

2. “Par yeh kyu nahin bataya, ki mujhe ghar ke andar bhi careful rehna hai?”

The moment a girl starts going to school, especially in India, her parents get concerned about her safety outside the home. The brutal reality only intensifies their fear of sending their daughters outdoors. However, we are never told to be equally careful even in the so-called safety of our home. In Highway, Veera was sexually assaulted by her uncle. When she spoke to her mother, she silenced Veera and asked her to pretend like nothing happened.

3. “Yeh jo freedom hai na, ise main pakadna chahti hoon”

Veera felt suffocated in the four walls of her home as her family always put restrictions on her. So, when Mahabir kidnapped her, she felt strangely freer than ever as he let her be herself. She wanted to cling to this freedom and be independent. Isn’t this what most women hope for?

4. “Sab galat hai… Yeh duniya bohot galat hai”

Veera said this in the context of how society undermines women. In Highway, Veera’s family always treated her like a delicate doll, having no mind of her own. They made her feel she needed to depend on someone, especially a man. Even Arjun, her fiancé, thought of her in the same way. Her family and friends who were supposed to protect her were the ones who ignored her suffering.

5. “Maine aise feel nahin kiya hai na kabhi… ki main kuchh bhi kar sakti hoon, jo mann mein aaye.”

This dialogue captures a feeling several women can relate to. When Veera spent time with Mahabir, she realised he gave her a non-judgemental space to thrive. She didn’t have to worry about anything, as with him, she knew he’d handle it. Moreover, she felt she could make decisions, the freedom every woman has longed for at some point.

6. “Kya hai yeh sab? Yeh ghar, yeh family, yeh log? Mujhe nahin rehna inn sab ke beech”

Towards the end of Highway, Veera reaches home and finds the same old faces who neglected her emotions. She confronted them and realised she was trapped in there. Veera questioned the meaning of home and family as they never cared for her pain. This highlights the plight of women who are made to fulfil society’s expectations while sacrificing their individual needs.

7. “Aise hi kisi pahaad par, mera ghar ho. Main hamesha chahti thi. Mera ghar, sapna tha mera”

Veera expressed her wish to Mahabir saying she always wanted a home near the mountains. A home she can call hers, where she can do whatever she likes. This highlights how she wanted to be away from society’s rules. Veera’s desire to exist without fear and restriction mirrors the collective want of many women.

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