I am not endorsing Jauhar in Padmaavat says Sanjay Leela Bhansali

2 Feb 2018

While refusing to react to actress Swara Bhaskars Open Letter condemning the alleged endorsement of the ancient practice of jauhar (self-immolation), filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali takes the opportunity to address the issue of jauhar.Nowhere in the entire episode showing these fabulously brave women perishing rather than succumbing to the advances of the invader have I come forward to express my own approval of the practice of jauhar.In Satyajit Rays Devi Sharmila Tagores character is seen as a victim of blind religious faith. It didnt mean that Manikda (Ray) was endorsing blind faith. Bhansali dismisses the belief that hes propagating jauhar in Padmaavat.Its like saying Ritwick Ghatak approved of tuberculosis in Meghe Dhaka Tara just because his heroine succumbed to itor that Hrishikesh Mukherjee endorsed cancer in Anand It is the story, it is what happened Why must a filmmaker be answerable to socio-political interpretations for every action and reaction in his cinema? asks Sanjay Leela Bhansali.The filmmaker has received tremendous responses to the jauhar sequence. Not all positive. But thats okay. A healthy debate is an essential part of every democracy. I am glad my film is giving people a reason to think aloud.