Bollywood and Vogue India Imagines a World Safe For Women in a Short Film Gone Viral

Bollywood is no stranger to breaking box-office records, churning out one flashy film after another, but one of Bollywood’s fastest rising stars is celebrating the success a project a bit different than — quite literally — the old song and dance. Alia Bhatt’s short film on women’s safety, “Going Home,” went viral on October 21 after trending on Facebook, hitting more than 2 million views on YouTube.

Bollywood is no stranger to breaking box-office records, churning out one flashy film after another, but one of Bollywood’s fastest rising stars is celebrating the success a project a bit different than— quite literally — the old song and dance.

Alia Bhatt’s short film on women’s safety, “Going Home,” went viral on October 21 after trending on Facebook, hitting more than 2 million views on YouTube.

“Wohooo !!! #GoingHome top trend on Facebook :D,” Bhatt, who found fame after her debut in Karan Johar’s “Student of The Year,” Tweeted Tuesday. “This was a really special short film..THANK YOU !!!! Loveeeee.”

The film, posted on October 17, was created by director Vikas Bahl as part of Vogue India’s #VogueEmpower initiative to promote women’s empowerment. Bahl makes a bold statement on women’s safety by taking viewers through a heart-pounding, suspenseful ride in the over five-minute-long video, which opens with Bhatt driving home alone at night.

“I’ll be home in 10 minutes,” Bhatt reassures her worried mother over the phone before hanging up. “Go to sleep, please.”

The plot immediately takes an expectedly harrowing turn when Bhatt’s car breaks down in the middle of a dark, desolate street, leaving her completely abandoned. Circumstances get increasingly foreboding when Bhatt looks up to see an SUV full of burly men pull up slowly next to her car, the riders leering at her like hunters surveying their defeated prey. It’s every woman’s worst nightmare, and viewers will predictably watch with bated breath just waiting for what they expect will happen next.

Except it won’t. The damsel won’t get attacked. She won’t cry for help. And she won’t be left in a ditch grossly violated, beaten and bleeding to death. Instead, her naive belief that being alone, dressed in a tight skirt and needing help in the middle of the night won’t be confused as “asking for trouble” will actually be right. She’ll get in the men’s car without a second thought, get safely dropped off at home, and cheerfully thank her do-gooders for their kind act of service. And every time you think things will go sour, they will turn out just fine — because that’s how it should happen.

“Impossible in the real world,” read the words at the end of the film. “Can we give her the world that she believes exists?”

And with that, the viewer will snap back to reality — remembering once again that it really is a dream because a woman’s world today is best ruled by second guesses and skepticism — but maybe it doesn’t have to be.

As one of the 182 #VogueEmpower pledge-makers, Bahl pledged to create the short film to imagine that idyllic world and “visualise a utopia for women, where, unlike today, mistrust and fear don’t dictate actions and decisions.”

Vogue India launched #VogueEmpower to celebrate the magazine’s seventh anniversary, pairing up with some of India’s biggest names to raise awareness for women-centric causes. Bollywood A-listers Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor and Aamir Khan joined design houses Dior, Jimmy Choo, Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavall to pledge an action. Global brands like Revlon, Sephora, and P&G are also on the roster of #VogueEmpower ambassadors.

From redefining physical beauty in Kajol’s “Power Trip” video to reevaluating values commonly instilled in boys in Madhuri’s “#StartWithTheBoys,” Vogue India is calling on India’s elite to step up and speak out for women’s empowerment doing what they do best.

“The idea is to engage with Vogue’s circle of influencers and thought leaders to become our pledge-makers, our agents of change.” Vogue India editor Priya Tanna said. “We want them to mobilise people to think, talk and act in ways that highlight and draw attention to women’s empowerment.”

#VogueEmpower has also partnered up with Give India to raise funds for girl’s education, vocational and professional training for women, and other women’s causes. To donate, buy #VogueEmpower merchandise, and learn more about the mission, visit #VogueEmpower’s website.