BJP Criticises Swara Bhasker Over Remarks on Padmaavat
Actor questions the film's portrayal of the final Jauhar sequence, while BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia says women should respect one another.
NEW DELHI, Sept 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised actor Swara Bhasker over her comments on the portrayal of Jauhar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2018 historical drama Padmaavat, sparking a fresh debate over the film’s depiction of women’s honour and sacrifice.
Bhasker’s remarks centred on the movie’s concluding sequence, in which women perform Jauhar. Speaking at a recent event, the actor questioned the message the scene could convey to survivors of sexual violence.
Bhasker said she found the sequence troubling and argued that portraying suicide as a means of protecting honour could send a problematic message to women who have experienced rape.
Her comments drew criticism on social media, following which BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia responded to the controversy.
Bhatia said such remarks should not be made and stressed that women should show respect towards other women.
The BJP’s criticism came as Bhasker subsequently sought to clarify her position. She said her comments had been “completely mistranslated” and maintained that she had never described Rani Padmavati or other women who chose Jauhar as cowards.
Bhasker’s clarification sought to distinguish her criticism of the film’s portrayal from any judgment against the historical figures associated with the practice.
The controversy has once again brought attention to Padmaavat, a film that generated significant debate over its portrayal of Rajput history, honour and Jauhar even before its release in 2018.
