Never one to mince words, Shabana Azmi believes India is experiencing hyper nationalism in context of the protests over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati". The veteran actress say the situation in the country is "alarming". "What we are seeing now is hyper nationalism. It is something to be alarmed about. It is not that this is the first time it has happened. Culture and the arts become the first weapon of attack because the contrary country's image of self is defined by what the culture represents and so there have been these consistent attacks," said Shabana, during a panel discussion on "nationalism" at the Times Delhi Lit Fest on Saturday.

Shabana Azmi