Film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali assaulted in Jaipur

The award winning Bollywood director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was slapped and assaulted by the members of Karni sena when he was shooting for his film, ‘Padmavati’ in the Jaigarh fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan yesterday. The mob vandalized the film unit and damaged expensive camera equipment. Bhansali called off the shoot and has returned to Mumbai.

The violence was based on a rumour that Rani Padmavathi (Deepika Padukone) will be seen romancing Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh).

There has not been a single arrest nor was any police complaint lodged by the unit. The fringe group, Karni sena had also protested during Jodha-Akbar film. The film Jodhaa Akbar was not permitted to release in Rajasthan by the same group despite censor certification.

Entire film industry stands behind Sanjay Bhansali

The actors of the film, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor took to Twitter to convey their shock at the turn of events and condemned the attack on a senior filmmaker like Bhansali.

The entire film fraternity has come openly in support of Bhansali. Too much has now been dictated by fringe groups that enjoy support of those in power?

Film & Television Producers Guild of India backs Bhansali

The statement reads: “The dastardly act of vandalism and assault which happened yesterday on the sets of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati at Jaipur is extremely unfortunate, deplorable and totally unacceptable to the Indian film industry. The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) in unison with the entire film fraternity strongly condemns this despicable episode and expresses its absolute and unflinching support to Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”

Film industry soft target for fringe groups?

On and off the Hindutva groups have dictated terms to the film fraternity about what can and what cannot be done and who can and who cannot act in films. Anyone who is seen to object is an enemy/anti-national and has to face the consequences.

At a time like this, the leaders must step in to control these hate mongers. When the leaders do not condemn the violence, such activities increase as if they are officially licenced. Or are they?

-UDAAN