Padmavati In Trouble; Bollywood Comes Out In Support

Ever since the news was released that the movie Padmavati would be exploring a fictional love angle between the legendary Queen of Chittor and Alauddin Khilji, a massive protest rose against the release of the movie. The protests, led by Karni Sena, have reached epic proportions, one of the protestors offering Rs 10 crore as a bounty for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s head. In response to all the opposition that the movie is seeing, the filmmakers have ‘voluntarily’ decided to postpone the release date of the movie, but even that is not satiable to the protestors who are asking for a complete ban on the movie.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has cleared the air around the controversies on numerous occasions but it has been a pointless effort since the protestors are not ready to listen. In the wake of all this struggle, Bollywood has come out of its slumber in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Padmavati. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, in a series of tweets blamed the incident on the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections and the government. “Sad that the bullies have prevailed again…” he tweeted.

Sad that bullies have prevailed again. The government’s stance is disappointing but not unexpected. After all what is a film compared to elections? #SDurga #Nude and #Padmavati to begin with. Many more to come…

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) November 19, 2017

I regret recording a video endorsing IFFI – it was done in good faith for the love of films and much before all this happened.

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) November 19, 2017

I was told by many industry leaders that it was a wise strategy to delay #Padmavati. Truth is that people have resigned themselves to government inaction in the face of such blatant terror. The only advice given is to shut up, retreat and accept these attacks.

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) November 19, 2017

So SLB should show the film to those who threaten to have him beheaded? And get their approval?

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) November 19, 2017

The stars of Bollywood have a point when they say that the goons that are protesting against the movie are doing so without watching even a single frame of the movie and their prejudice is totally baseless. The allegations against Padmavati and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are that the movie distorts historical facts and demeans the reputation of the legendary Queen Padmavati. Other members of the industry have also come forward to support Sanjay Leela Bhansali in his time of need.

Gauri Shinde tweeted that the groups that are protesting are just a minority and they would not be able to stop the moviemakers from bringing the movie to the public and majority of the population would side with sanity and law and order.

We r not going to be held ransom by a minuscule group of goons who even threaten murder over a film.its not the voice of the nation.Never forget the majority of the country believes in sanity, and the rule of law #padmavati #SLB @deepikapadukone

— Gauri Shinde (@gauris) November 18, 2017

Twinkle Khanna joked that the nation wishes to know if the bounty of Rs 10 crore is inclusive of the GST.

The nation wants to know-Is this 10 cr beheading fee inclusive of GST? https://t.co/sSlKJKmlYt

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) November 19, 2017

Anurag Kashyap had a question about whether people in India get arrested for making threats to behead someone.

Don't people get arrested for openly threatening to behead somebody ??

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) November 17, 2017