Veteran scriptwriter Salim Khan has condemned the attack on director Sanjay Leela Bhansali during the shooting of ‘Padmavati’ in Jaipur’s Jaigarh fort, saying the incident is a ‘matter of shame’.
The 81-year-old ‘Sholay’ writer said he has many friends from the Rajput community and the race is noble. “I have grown up with Rajput boys and have been close to their families. This race is genetically brave hospitable and loyal.
“The people those who attacked Sanjay Leela Bhansali called themselves Rajputs. The incident is a matter of shame to the noble community,” Salim tweeted.
The writer said he is sure that Bhansali will not do anything that will hurt the sentiment of anyone. “Nobody has seen the film or read the script but i am sure Sanjay would not have hurt the sentiment of any community or individual,” he wrote.
Bhansali, was shooting for the film in Jaipur, when he was assaulted by activists of Rajput community group, Karni Sena, who also vandalised the set.
Leading stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor have spoken up against the attack. In a series of tweets, Deepika expressed her shock and sadness over the events that played out at the Jaigarh Fort.
Saying that she was “in a state of shock” and “deeply saddened and disheartened by yesterday’s events”, the actress also came forward to clarify that is “no distortion of history” in the film and that their only endeavour is to share with the world “the story of this courageous and powerful woman in the purest form” there is.
Shahid Kapoor, who will be seen playing the role of Padmavati’s husband Raja Rawal Ratan Singh, expressed his anger and his ‘regret’ that he wasn’t by the filmmaker’s side when the incident took place. Questioning the actions of the fringe group, Shahid said that the director was someone who the country should be ‘proud of’ because of the “dignity he brings to the film”.
Ranveer Singh, who will be playing the role of the Alauddin Khilji, assured the people of Rajasthan and the Rajput community, that his director Bhansali “won’t ever do anything to hurt anyone’s feelings”. Admitting that the incident on Friday evening was “very unfortunate”, the actor also requested the people of Rajasthan to “understand and empathise” with their intentions and to give them their support.
The film’s team had also issued a clarification early in the day, stating that unlike the allegations made against them, there was no romantic scene between the characters of Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji played by Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.
It has been reported that director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has called off the shoot in Jaipur, post the horrific incident and that he will soon be returning to Mumbai.
Several Bollywood stars including Bhansali’s ‘Bajirao Mastani’ star Priyanka Chopra, along with Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Farhan Akktar and many more, united to voice their anger towards the incident and also pledged their support to the director.
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