Industry Mein Itna Sannatta Kyun Hai: Shatrughan Sinha on the Padmavati controversy

Never one  to mince words, Shatrughan Sinha now lashes out at folks from his own fraternity—cinema  and  politics—on the Padmavati controversy.

Says Shatruji, “On some level I  can understand the silence  of  my colleagues in the BJP. After all what can they say when the miscreants and  fringe elements are  given a free hand? Still I’d like to say it’s too late for our dynamic Prime Minister and the other high command to stay silent. Padmavati  is  a raging issue. And the fringe elements are openly issuing threats.  How can the High Command keep quiet when goons are threatening to behead Bhansali and Deepika Padukone?It’s time for our honourable prime minister to say, enough is enough. If you give  the goons a  free reign  they will continue to cross limits in ways we  wouldn’t be  able to control.”

Shatruji is  even  less tolerant  of  the silence within the  film industry.  “One of our country’s most precious filmmakers  is  being bullied and  threatened.And  all  of them are  looking the other way? What a shame! No one except Shabana Azmi and  Javed Akhtar—who are always fearless in opposing  injustice– has come out to condemn the violence. I can understand Bachchan Saab’s silence. He has always been wary of getting into controversies.  But what about the rest?Industry mein itna sannatta kyon?”

He feels  Bhansali is partially to blame  for  the  film industry’s silence. “He has  never come out to support anyone .Why should they stick their  necks  out now? Even after he was assaulted the  first time(in Rajasthan) he did  not file an FIR.”

Shatruji feels  it is okay to show Padmavati to  fringe elements. “Saach ko aanch nahin. If you are honest  in your intentions why are  you afraid to show the film to the doubters and  protesters? Dikhado aur baat khatam karo.”