Padmaavat co-writer defends Jauhar scene amid Swara Bhasker's remark: 'Was reality of those times'

Padmaavat writer on Jauhar scene (Pics/X)

Prakash Kapadia, co-writer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat, has reacted to Swara Bhasker's recent criticism of the film's Jauhar sequence. Defending the depiction, Kapadia said the makers portrayed what was documented in history and called the controversy unwarranted.

Padmaavat co-writer on Swara's remark

While speaking to Hindustan Times, Prakash Kapadia, who co-wrote Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2018 period drama, reacted to criticism and said, "We made the film according to our research and what is written in history books. Every person interprets the film differently. What we showed, including the Jauhar scene, was the reality of those times. It cannot be changed now. The situation was that of ‘do or die'. Woh log (the male warriors) kesariya kar ke utare thhe (they went into battle dressed in saffron, ready to fight until death)."

He claimed that although he hadn't been paying much attention to Bhasker's recent remarks, he thought the dispute wasn't warranted. He explained, "It depends on the person's mood. Even if it's a good film, and you watch it with a bad state of mind, you will find it bekaar. It's also about intention; whether you are going as a viewer or watching it to find something controversial or to find negativity."

About Swara Bhasker's remark

The controversy sparked after Bhasker spoke about the Jauhar sequence in Padmaavat at a ‘Woman, Life, Freedom' event at Delhi's India International Centre on August 31. Videos of her speaking at the event went viral, where she is seen arguing that the depiction of the age-old practice as an act of honour could potentially send a troubling message to rape survivors. Her comments led to massive backlash online.

Following the backlash, Bhasker posted a clarification that she did not call Rani Padmavati or the other women cowards, adding that her concern was that rape survivors should never feel that surviving makes them less courageous.

The controversy also resulted in protests in Agra, with protestors burning and trampling her posters. A youth leader has also offered a reward of Rs 1.51 lakh for cutting Swara's tongue. Meanwhile, Swara's co-star and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also reacted to her comments.