‘Dabangg 3’ to ‘Padmaavat’ and ‘Zero’: Bollywood films which hit headlines for hurting religious sentiments

Bollywood films are well promoted by the makers but often there is a lot of negative publicity involved too. Mostly these movies face protest from religious organisations, leading to a whole lot of newsprint being dedicated to them, albeit for a not so pleasant reason. Usually period films and historic dramas land in trouble and face controversy for their content. From Salman Khan’s ‘Dabangg 3’ to Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor starrer ‘Padmaavat’ - here’s taking a look at Bollywood films which hit headlines for hurting religious sentiments.

Salman Khan starrer ‘Dabangg 3’ is yet to hit the screens but landed in controversy with its title song. It featured Salman Khan aka Chulbul Pandey shaking a leg with sadhus, who were shown playing a guitar. A Hindu organisation reportedly found it objectionable and asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take action. Choreographer of the song, Shabina Khan told Bombay Times, “The song features sadhus dancing with guitars. Now, these are not real sadhus! These are dancers in a sadhu get-up performing choreographed steps. We shot the song in Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh. There were a few sadhus who had just gathered to see the shoot. You can see them standing in the background in the song.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ faced the ire of the public just when it went on floors in Rajasthan. The director was roughed up by members of a Rajput outfit, Karni Sena, who alleged that the film distorted facts about Rani Padmini of Chittor. After a lot of controversy and delay, the film finally managed to hit the screens in January 2018. The group later on went on to express support for 'Padmaavat', after watching the movie. A letter signed by Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena's national vice-president Yogendra Singh Katar and Sena's Maharashtra coordinator Jeevan Singh was handed over to Bhansali production, stating that they don’t have any objection over the film’s screening.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Zero’ also invited trouble before its release. Right after the trailer and poster of the film were launched, the film faced protest for having hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. In the film, Shah Rukh Khan was seen wearing the Gatra Kirpan, an article of Sikh faith that can be worn only by a truly devoted Sikh. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa had reportedly filed a complaint against SRK for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. The makers of ‘Zero’ finally altered the portions which caused the controversy.

Recently released ‘Panipat’ landed in trouble after Mathura and Agra units of Akhil Bhartiya Adarsh Jat Mahasabha (ABAJM) stated that the film should be banned as it allegedly portrayed Jat ruler Maharaja Surajmal in bad light. A source exclusively informed ETimes, “A scene from ‘Panipat’ had upset the Jat community seeking the ban on the film. However, understanding the sensitivity of the situation, the makers of the movie decided to chop the 11-minute scene which offended the people in Rajasthan. The scene is now no more a part of the movie and the film is now 11 minutes shorter.”

Little did Sara Ali Khan know that her debut film will cause so much of controversy. 2018 December release ‘Kedarnath’ faced flak from priests of Uttarakhand’s Chardham stating that the film hurts Hindu religious sentiments as it promotes ‘love jihad’. The chairman of the priests based in Kedarnath, Vinod Shukla reportedly stated that they will launch an agitation if the movie is not banned. And it didn’t end here a Hindu group also demanded that the film be banned because it showcased love scenes as the religious destination of Kedarnath. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Sara had reacted to the same and said, “It's really not that kind of a film, rather it's about how Kedarnath is as much Mansoor's world as it's Mukku's. I don't understand this kind of divisiveness, but then I don't understand racism or sexism, which is rampant across the world, either. At the same time, I believe that while my life's experiences and education have shaped my thought process, the lack of it could have influenced others to think differently. And just as everyone doesn't have to like every movie, we can coexist with different world views.