With Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s ‘Pathaan’ just a few days away from its release, the right-wing fringe group Bajrang Dal has threatened to not let it hit the theatres in Gujarat despite it getting clearance from the censor board.
According to a report in Times Now, Bajrang Dal members protested in Gujarat and announced that they will stall the release of the film in the state, irrespective of what the censor board has to say.
The film ‘Pathaan’ has been accused of hurting Hindu sentiments by showing Deepika wearing a saffron-coloured bikini in the song ‘Besharam Rang’.
Ashoke Pandit reacts
Reacting to the fresh threats issued by Bajrang Dal, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit demanded strict action against the members of the organisaion.
“The authorities have cleared the film. Nothing is required more than that. It is the right of the filmmaker and the right of the producer to release a film after proper clearances from the government statutory bodies,” he stated.
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Pathaan and Besharam Rang controversy
The song sparked outrage after Deepika was seen donning a “saffron bikini” in one of the scenes in the song. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra called her outfit in the song “objectionable” and threatened makers to stall the film’s release.
Several political leaders and Hindu organisations also claimed that the use of the saffron/orange colour in the song was aimed at insulting Hindutva.
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Changes in Pathaan
Amid massive uproar over the film, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has recommended a slew of cuts and modifications in the film, including in the controversial song ‘Besharam Rang’.
The CBFC has asked the makers to replace close up shots of buttocks with other suitable shots. Not just that, but the board has also asked to curtail the sensual visuals in the “bahut tang kiya…” part of the song, and has suggested to replace a ‘side pose’ of Deepika which allegedly highlighted “partial nudity”.
The name ‘RAW’ has been changed at several points in the film, while the mention of ‘Ashoka Chakra’ has been replaced with ‘Veer Puraskar’.
About Pathaan
‘Pathaan’ marks the return of SRK with a full-fledged role on the silver screens after four long years. The trailer of the film was dropped on January 10 and within no time, it became one of the most viewed videos online.
It also stars John Abraham as the lead antagonist of the story and he will be seen packing some serious punches with SRK.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘Pathaan’ is all set to hit the silver screens on January 25.
