When ‘Fiza’ Was Too Honest for Its Time

There was a time when Hindi cinema was unflinching. In 2000, journalist Khalid Mohamed dared to depict the horrors of the 1993 Bombay riots on screen. What happens, he asked, when a cosmopolitan city forgets its past? Is it doomed to repeat it? In some ways, India is still trying to answer that question.

Long before Fiza came out on September 8, 2000, people were already whispering about the movie that led famed actor Jaya Bhaduri to end her sabbatical, A.R. Rahman to compose a song despite other commitments, and newcomer Hrithik Roshan to wade through monsoon rains to shoot for a non-hero role. Critics panned the film upon its release. But over 25 years later, it remains a shining example of a time when speaking honestly in cinema didn’t come with a price.