Celebrities including Sonam Kapoor, music composer Vishal Dadlani, southern star Arvind Swami and Ashok Pandit have condemned the attack on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali by activists of a Rajput community group during the shooting of his upcoming movie “Padmavati”.
A group of activists forced stopped the shooting of the filmmaker’s next directorial venture by vandalising the set at Jaigarh Fort, of Jaipur and also assaulted him, claiming the film was distorting the Rajput queen Padmavati’s history.
Bollywood actors came out in full support of the director and in condemnation of the incident:
It’s appalling to hear what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali .im so saddened..Violence is not what our forefathers taught us..
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) January 27, 2017
I’m waiting to see how many people are punished for what they’ve done to #SanjayLeelaBhansali & his crew. There’s enough evidence.
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017
Sanjay bhansali is a film maker who the country should be proud of. You will know when u see #padmavati the dignity he brings to it.
— Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) January 28, 2017
Just got the news on what has happened on the #padmavati set. This is mockery of democracy.My full support to #SanjayLeelaBhansali &the crew
— arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) January 27, 2017
I condemn attack by goons on #SanjayLeelaBhansali. It is unfortunate & shameful. But to give it a communal angel by some is equally shameful
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) January 28, 2017
Who has made these ‘gundas’ the upholders of my country’s morality and history .. my India is not so parochial #SanjayLeelaBhansali
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) January 27, 2017
What happened on Padmavati sets is appalling and heinous. Is this the state of the world.
— Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) January 27, 2017
We would suffer till the time we’re obsessed with our surnames.
If you’re that courageous,give us your first name to acknowledge.#padmavati— Sushant (@itsSSR) January 27, 2017
Other directors from the film fraternity spoke out in SLB’s defence:
Thoughts of what has transpired with Sanjay Bhansali today are just not leaving me!! Feeling helpless and angry!! This cannot be our future!
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 27, 2017
Our dignity has been violated.The entire film industry must stand with Sanjay n demand that every member of this goon squad shud b arrested! https://t.co/2nlz5GI4ea
— Sudhir Mishra (@IAmSudhirMishra) January 27, 2017
We have hit a curve in history where the film industry has to abandon its politics of silence. Silence now will tantamount to betrayal.
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) January 28, 2017
In 2008 , this is what SLB said about how he looks at Padmavati..for those who assume what he is making without knowing the script are wrong pic.twitter.com/ksfBGe5MW0
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 28, 2017
Everyone is trying to be the next PM.https://t.co/xfZcwqJDOi
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) January 28, 2017
Good that Bollywood is now rallying behind #SanjayLeelaBhansali If only it had backed @aamir_khan & @karanjohar & @iamsrk hadn’t grovelled
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) January 28, 2017
Others from the entertainment industry also reacted strongly:
Disgusted horrified! Gundaraj running the country? Appalled beyond words with wht happened w/ #SanjayLeelaBhansali sir.Can’t believe my eyes
— Shreya Ghoshal (@shreyaghoshal) January 27, 2017
Anyone who truly values their history doesn’t attack, they study. They don’t care about history, they want headlines. #SanjayLeelaBhansali
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) January 27, 2017
Not “vigilantes”, Swara. They’re terrorists. Plain and simple. That’s what terrorists do. Use fear of violence to enforce their ideology. https://t.co/1z7A014JC7
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 27, 2017
Violence against artists expressing themselves is a cowardly crime. Govt should punish these criminals who hurt India’s freedom. #Padmavati
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) January 27, 2017
The period drama stars Deepika Padukone in the lead role of Padmavati and features Shahid Kapoor as Raja Ratan Singh. Ranveer Singh is essaying the role of Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi sultan, who falls in love with Padmavati. The film is scheduled to release in November this year.
Feature Image Source: PTI/YouTube
