Javed Akhtar sparks outrage over his Rajput remarks. Karni Sena says they'll beat him on streets

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As more Bollywood voices come out in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s troubled magnum-opus, ‘Padmavati’ – controversies are piling over each other, as the heated exchange of words from both counters continue.

 “The Rajputs and the Rajwadas never fought against the British and now they are taking to the streets against a film and a filmmaker. All these ‘ranas’ ‘rajas’ and ‘maharajas’ of Rajasthan were serving in the courts of the British for 200 years. Where did their Rajput honour and valour go that time? They have become what they are since they had accepted to serve the British.”

In a statement to Times Of India, Rajput Karni Sena’s State President, Mahipal Singh Makrana responded to Akhtar’s remarks with the following:

“He (Akhtar) has lost our respect. From now on he is banned in Rajasthan and if he dares we will thrash him on the streets. Rajputs and Rajwadas have sacrificed their lives and he is mocking our history and saying we were serving the British. He does not deserve ‘Padharo Mhare Des’ treatment anymore. He speaks a lot in literature festivals and next time we are not going to allow him to even come to Jaipur and speak.”

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Amidst the exchange of dialogues and the resultant ‘threats’, the fate of Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’ still lies in uncertainty.

With a number of states, having already banned the movie, its unlikely we might get to see it anytime soon.

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