MUMBAI: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who has vehemently opposed “Hindu extremists” for violence on the set of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmavati” in Jaipur, says he has grown up learning to question those that govern the country.
Kashyap is one of the most vocal celebrities and recently he came out in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the director was attacked by a fringe Rajput group on the set of “Padmavati” in Jaipur.
He tweeted: “Hindu extremists have stepped out of twitter into the real world now.. and Hindu terrorism is not a myth anymore.”
Hindu extremists have stepped out of twitter into the real world now.. and Hindu terrorism is not a myth anymore
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 27, 2017
Kashyap wrote, “We are living in the times where everyone who does not read or research knows more truth than those who have spent a lifetime doing it”
We are living in the times where everyone who does not read or research knows more truth than those who have spent a lifetime doing it
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 28, 2017
The “Raman Raghav 2.0” director found plenty of support from his colleagues like directors Karan Johar, actors Sushant Singh Rajput to Anushka Sharma.
Johar tweeted, “No member of our industry should be silent on this matter!!! It’s calls for unity and NOT selective indifference!!!”
https://twitter.com/karanjohar/status/825083571547156480
My fellow film folk, if we do not unite now against these recurring incidents of bullying, it's going to get much worse. #IstandbySLB
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017
The filmmaker, who says he has “zero political affiliation”, has spoken out in reaction to the responses he received on supporting Bhansali, who faced the ire of Karni Sena activists on his “Padmavati” set in Jaipur last week.
The row was over “distortion of historical facts” in the film, which is about Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi ruler, who fell in love with Rajput queen Padmavati.
Kashyap was one of the first film fraternity members to speak up in favour of Bhansali, and said he was ashamed to be a Rajput himself.
In a Facebook post, the 44-year-old helmer wrote that he has always taken stand for issues he strongly believes in and he will continue to raise his voice for what he feels is right.
“It does not matter what you say or do, attack me physically or verbally, I will voice what I feel. You mobs don’t scare me, my voice will always rise over your screaming and shouting, I embrace my truth and I do not fear accusations,” Kashyap wrote.
The director said such factions who employ violence to express their disapproval have no entitlement to the work which he does.
Kashyap added that he has been taught that “your PM is the head of the state or country, who you can question, seek answers, argue with but never fear him.”
The director said he believes in the constitution and he will exercise all his rights whenever he wants despite the many oppositions.
“I have zero political affiliation. So all of you are welcome to say, scream shout whatever you want. I believe in my constitution, my rights, my liberties and I will take them and exercise them when I deem fit. So thank you for all this intense passionate love that you send my way, you are not going to stop me.