Mumbai — Actress Zoya Hussain has spoken candidly about the continuing challenges surrounding women’s safety, saying that despite progress in recent decades, there is still no part of the world where women can be considered completely safe.
Hussain, who is currently promoting her upcoming streaming series ‘Hunkkaar – The Roar’, discussed the issue with IANS alongside co-stars Fatima Sana Shaikh and Raghubir Yadav at a five-star hotel in Mumbai.
Asked where society has fallen short when women’s safety remains a concern even in 2026, the actress said the problem is widespread and cannot be limited to any one country or community.
“So many places we’ve gone wrong. This is the state of women across the world. In our country definitely, but in every country in the world,” she said.
Hussain pointed out that while women have gained greater agency and access to opportunities over the past several decades, equality and safety remain unfinished challenges.
“There’s no place in the world where you can be like, ‘This is a great place for women’. It’s in all sectors, across professions, across countries, and across classes. It’s ridiculous,” she told IANS.
She acknowledged that the situation has changed significantly over the past 50 to 100 years, with women gaining greater opportunities and independence, but said that progress has not translated into an ideal environment for women.
Her comments come amid renewed public concern over reported incidents of sexual violence and harassment, including the recent cases reported from Aastha Kunj Park and Jamui in Bihar. Such incidents have once again brought questions of public safety, accountability and institutional responsibility into focus.
Hussain said the responsibility for creating safer environments cannot rest solely on individuals and must also involve those who hold positions of authority.
“If we sit and analyze it, it’s such an immense topic. Where do you start? Where do you stop?” she said.
She argued that institutions and people with power — including the police, defence establishments, politicians and employers — have a responsibility to protect those under their authority.
“The responsibility is with anybody that is in a position of power to ensure somebody’s safety. Otherwise, where do you start? That’s the whole debate right now. That’s why it’s so frustrating for all of us that nothing is happening. It’s mind-blowing,” she added.
‘Hunkkaar – The Roar’ is currently available to stream on JioHotstar.
–IANS