After Padmaavat, Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika in trouble as Brahmins threaten stir

After a massive controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika seems to be another Bollywood flick in a soup as a Rajasthan Brahmin group has threatened to disrupt the shooting, claiming “indecent portrayal” of Rani Laxmibai.

“We have come to know that there are some scenes, including a song, that shows her (Rani Laxmibai) as having a love affair with a Britisher, Indian Express quoted Suresh Misra, founder president of Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha (SBM) as saying.

Misra said the filmmakers have adopted some scenes from Jaishree Misra’s controversial book named ‘Rani’.

He said, “the book was banned by Uttar Pradesh government, why filmmakers have to take content from a banned book.”

The Brahmin Mahasabha will disrupt the film’s shooting if our concerns are not addressed, Misra threatened.

The controversial book by London-based author Jaishree Misra mentioned a relationship between Jhansi queen Rani Laxmi Bai, a Brahmin, and British officer Robert Ellis.

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After a series of protests by Brahmins, then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati had banned the book in UP in February 2008.

“We had sent a letter to the producers on January 9. However, after almost a month, there has been no response,” Misra told the English daily.

In the letter written to Manikarnika producer Kamal Jain, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha (SBM) said, “Jhansi ki Maharani Laxmi Bai was a Brahmin and therefore our organisation and community has certain queries as it is related with Brahmin sentiments & emotions.”

Misra said the movie will meet the same fate as Padmavati (later renamed to Padmaavat) if the producers don’t listen to our demands.

The Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika is currently being shot in Jaipur, Rajasthan and the SBM wants the movie producers to submit an affidavit to the state government that there is nothing objectionable in it.