Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s most ambitious film Padmaavat is finally in theatres across India except for four states, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa despite the Supreme Court’s clearing to be screened across the whole of India.
“Cinemas are an inseparable part of a right to free speech and expression,” said Chief Justice Dipak Misra at the time of the ruling. “States… cannot issue notifications prohibiting the screening of a film.”
While traffic is blocked in Gujarati district Banaskantha and members of the Karni Sena damaged windows of two Rajasthan roadways buses and blocked a road in Kalwar area in Jaipur. “One bus was on its way to New Delhi from Sikar and the second was coming from New Delhi. Windows of the buses were damaged but there was no report of any injury,” said a policeman of Neema Ka Thana Police Station in Sikar district.
However, this is not the first time that Bollywood faced controversy (of varying degrees) in India.
Here are the five other films that were subject to a controversy that rocked the nation.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
Unlike Padmaavat, Karan Johar’s romantic-drama didn’t stir controversy for its plot, but its release was delayed due to the casting of Fawad Khan. A political party in Maharashtra, MNS grumbled about the Pakistani actor starring in the film, and protests ensued. Due to this Khan’s role was forced to remove significantly post-filming. Also, Johar apologised and donated money to the Indian Army Welfare Foundation.
Billu
This film saw an unusual protest. Irrfan Khan starrer film was originally supposed to be titled Billu Barber but was later renamed when Mumbai’s actual barbers objected, taking offence to their profession being put in the title of the film. Strangely, there was nothing expressly insulting about barbers in the film.
Shah Rukh Khan, who both starred in and produced the film, said to CNN-IBN at the time that he was happy to accommodate their request: “I don’t think it’s wrong, they have their own take on it. Instead of going to and fro on who’s wrong, we decided on the posters and hoardings … we’ll stick a paper on the word ‘barber’ wherever it can be done.”
Black Friday (2007)
Though this film was ready to be released in 2004, it wasn’t allowed to release in theatres until 2007. The movie was based around the 1993 Mumbai bombings that led to 257 deaths. The film’s release was postponed by the Indian Censor Board until the verdict of the real-life case was settled in court.
Bajirao Mastani (2015)
This epic film was also directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (the filmmaker who made Padmaavat) which was based on the real-life 18th-century King Peshwa Baijrao. It was a moderately fictionalised retelling of his tale where his first and second wife were shown meeting and dancing together. It was this final detail that involved petitions by the descendants of the real-life king who demanded to remove the song in particular, however, the song stuck and were shown in the final film.
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)
Another film from Sanjay Leela Bhansali, like Padmaavat, this movie too stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone (who are together in real life as well). The film was originally slated to be called Ram-Leela, however, it was renamed after some religious groups whined regarding the title being related to Lord Rama. But in reality, the movie was a re-telling of Romeo & Juliet. So, the movie was then renamed after petitions were filed.