Attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Bollywood fraternity pours in support for Padmavati Director

The Hindi Film industry has come together to condemn the attack on famous director Sanjay Leela Bhansali during the shooting of his latest directorial venture “Padmavati” in Jaipur calling it “appalling”, “ridiculous” and “mockery of democracy”.

Bhansali, was shooting for his new film ‘Padmavati’ in Jaipur’s Jaigarh Fort, when he was assaulted by activists of a Rajput community group, ‘Karni Sena’, who also vandalised the set and celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Karan Johar, Anruag Kashyap, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Omung Kumar, Sudhir Mishra, Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor took to social media to vent their anger over the incident.

Let’s see who said what from the Bollywood fraternity:

# Karan Johar

“Thoughts of what has transpired with Sanjay Bhansali today are just not leaving me!! Feeling helpless and angry!!  This cannot be our future! Attacking a filmmaker and his right to free voice is no answer. So called historian and moral police! Disgusting!” Johar tweeted. 

The filmmaker, who recently faced the ire of a right wing organisation during the released of his film “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, said, “No member of our industry should be silent on this matter it’s calls for unity and NOT selective indifference.”

# Anurag Kashyap

“Can once the whole film industry come together and take a stand, and refuse to be a pony that all bullshit and bullshitters ride on?

“At the same time Shame on you Karni Sena, you make me feel ashamed to be a Rajput.. Bloody spineless cowards...,” he said.

# Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka, who worked with Bhansali in “Bajirao Mastani,” said she is “saddened” by the whole incident.

“It’s appalling to hear what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali. I’m so saddened. Violence is not what our forefathers taught you,” she wrote.

Also read: Watch video | Padmavati shoot in Jaipur: Protesters manhandle Sanjay Leela Bhansali, tear off his clothes

# Hrithik Roshan

“Did random people enter another person’s workplace n raise their hand on him because dey decide they don’t like what he does? I am enraged! Mr Bhansali, Sir. I stand with you. This is so infuriating,” the “Guzaarish” actor tweeted.

# Farhan Akhtar

Farhan also urged the industry people to unite and give it back to the “vulgar display of self-righteousness”.

“My fellow film folk, if we do not unite now against these recurring incidents of bullying, it’s going to get much worse. If u don’t like what he’s making, don’t watch his film.  What’s with the violence?? Apart from a vulgar display of self-righteousness,” he wrote.

# Ashutosh Gowariker

Gowariker tweeted, “Shocking! Appalling!! Despairing!!!  And still, we shall not stop making what we want to!!  Sanjay stay strong! I am with you! #Padmavati.”

# Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA)

The premier institution also condemned the attack and requested the government to take immediate action.

“Condemning the attack on its member #SanjayLeelaBhansali, @DirectorsIFTDA appeals to d Central and State Govt. to provide full security to him,” the official IFTDA page posted.

# Sudhir Mishra

Sudhir Mishra tweeted,” Our dignity has been violated. The entire film industry must stand with Sanjay n demand that every member of this goon squad should be arrested!”

# Arjun Rampal

“Just got the news on what has happened on the #padmavati set. This is mockery of democracy. My full support to #SanjayLeelaBhansali &the crew,” Arjun said.

# Anushka Sharma

Anushka wrote, “Appalled & horrified by what happened on SLB set. NO amount of diff of opinion or disagreement justifies this pathetic behaviour. Shameful!”

# Ram Gopal Varma

Veteran producer-director Ram Gopal Varma expressed angst against the government for not ensuring safety of artists.

“@narendramodi I don’t know when ur achchey din will come but Bhansali incident makes me feel India’s days going back to heights of burey din Bhansali is an artiste and if any country cannot protect its artistes from street hooligans it doesn’t deserve to be called a country,” he tweeted.

# Mukesh Bhatt

President of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India Mukesh Bhatt said, “The most unfortunate thing is that we filmmakers and creative artists live in a house of glass.  We are always scared that anyone can come and hit a stone and nothing will be done about it. There is nothing done for our protection.”

# Onir

“My Brother Nikhil” helmer Onir said, “It is unacceptable how often the entertainment industry is targeted by these violent idiots who go scotfree. Sign of Progress!!!  #Padmavati.”

# Sonam Kapoor

“What happened on Padmavati sets is appalling and heinous. Is this the state of the world,” Sonam tweeted.

# Nimrat Kaur

Nimrat Kaur wrote, “Utterly shocked and sickened to see some so called citizens of this country stoop to such horrifying audacities. #HugeShame #IStandBySLB”

# Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta tweeted, “Sad to see how people have become 2day. Violence is never the medium4 communication. There are others ways to make a point. #SanjayBhansali”.

# Alia Bhatt

“What happened on the sets of Padmavati is ridiculous.  There is such a thing as creative freedom and cinematic license,” Alia said.

# Rishi Kapoor

Veteran actor Rishi said he is with the filmmaker, “How do you take justice in your hands without knowing what the facts are. Shameful! So much for Karni Sena’s reputation. With you Sanjay!”

# Richa Chadha

“Cowards attacked #SanjayLeelaBhansali without knowing the truth. Want to see people punished for vandalism.  #ZeroToleranceforgoons,” Richa Chadha tweeted.

# Omung Kumar

“Sarbjit” director Omung said, “Appalled by this incident with Sanjay sir. The whole industry has to come together to give it back to these idiots.”

# Rahul Dholakia

“Raees” helmer Rahul Dholakia wrote,”You’re next! #bollywoodstandup #SanjayLeelaBhansali”.

# Riteish Deshmukh

“What happened on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s set is absolutely deplorable. #IStandBySLB: Over to you Rajasthan Police - Do the right thing,” Riteish Deshmukh wrote.

# Sushant Singh Rajput

Sushant Singh Rajput wrote, “We would suffer till the time we’re obsessed with our surnames. If you’re that courageous, give us your first name to acknowledge. #padmavati”.

# Nikhil Advani

Nikkhil Advani wrote,”Not enough to condemn. As fellow director/producer/film-maker/member please let us know what action will be taken. #IstandbySLB You could be next!!!  #FilmIndustry #Unite #IstandbySLB”.

# Athiya Shetty

Athiya Shetty wrote,”Shocked and disgusted. What has the world come to? Art was always meant to have no rules.”

# Harshvardhan Kapoor

Harshvardhan Kapoor tweeted, “This is unbelievably sad and so uncalled for, hope the guilty are punished.”      

# Sunny Leone

India Just celebrated Republic Day but it should be Republic day every day! #bhansali,” Sunny Leone posted.

# Sanjay Gupta

Sanjay Gupta posted, “I condemn the attack on SLB. This is so not done. I urge the industry to stand together here at least. Could be anyone of us next!”

# Chetan Bhagat

Writer Chetan Bhagat said bullying artistes has become a trend.

“It has seemingly become ok to bully artists in the country. It is time all artists stand together against such goons. Citizens must protect their artists at all costs. They are important channels of expression in a democracy.  #padmavati,” he tweeted.

# Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu tweeted, “People should be held accountable for this shameful act. Horrified by what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali #Padmavati sets.”

# Yami Gautam

“Horrifying & Disgusting incident! Miscreants must be punished! We stand with you #SanjayLeelaBhansali Sir!” Yami Gautam wrote.

# Anubhav Sinha

Anubhav Sinha tweeted, “When Power tries to control Art, there is something right with Art and there’s something wrong with Power #SanjayLeelaBhansali

# Boman Irani

Boman Irani posted, “Disturbed and saddened at what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali. Inaction will only embolden others....and that’s Anarchy.”

# Farah Khan

Farah khan tweeted,”Horrified Just when u think it can’t get worse. It does! Now 2 see what action is taken against the people who did this 2 sanjay Bhansali!!”

# Vishal Dadlani

Music composer Vishal Dadlani wrote, “Sick!  #SanjayLeelaBhansali one of our most respected filmmakers, attacked on his set. Hope the film industry comes together against this!”

# Huma Qureshi

Actress Huma Qureshi wrote, “Shocked by the attack on #SanjayLeelaBhansali ... Shame! These hooligans must be stopped...Who gives them the right to behave like this?”

# Vicky Kaushal

“Masaan” actor Vicky Kaushal tweeted, “Absolutely disgusting and so wrong!”

# Kabir Khan

Kabir Khan wrote, “1st they stop release of films... Now they r trying to stop films from being made. Attack on #SanjayLeelaBhansali is SHAMEFUL #IstandbySLB”

# Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi tweeted, “Film industry must stand as one n do whatever it takes to ensure that d reprehensible attack on SLB becomes a flashpoint for goondagiri to stop.”

# Parineeti Chopra

Parineeti Chopra tweeted, “We stand by you sir. There is such a thing as freedom of expression and we will not allow cowards take that away. #IstandbySLB”

# Mahesh Bhatt

“We have hit a curve in history where the film industry has to abandon its politics of silence. Silence now will tantamount to betrayal,” tweeted Mahesh Bhatt.