Padmavati row: Protests against Deepika Padukone starrer driven by Hindutva, not Hinduism says Nayantara Sahgal

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-awaited film Padmavati has been embroiled in controversy ever since the director started shooting in Jaipur.

Massive protests have been staged all over the country demanding a ban against the Deepika Padukone starrer.

The period drama has faced the ire of Karni Sena members and political leaders who have slammed the movie for distorting historical facts. The movie has been facing a lot of troubles with some organisations threatening to chop off the lead actress’ Deepika Padukone’s nose. 

One of the prolific writers in India, Nayantara Sahgal has opened up on the entire matter at the Times LitFest. The 90-year-old author said that it is Hindutva, not ‘Hinduism’ which is driving the protests against the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial. 

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Nayantara said that people should allow art, literature and culture to flourish and forget about other people’s sensitives. She added that had people worried about hurting others sentiments, the practise of Sati would never have been abolished in the country. 

 “The makers and the actress (of ‘Padmavati’) have been threatened by violence. This is Hindutva not Hinduism. The first teaching of Hinduism is non-violence,” she said. 

“We have to hurt sentiments when the sentiments are wrong. We are one billion plus people and we must have one billion plus one sensitivities, so, some sensitivity is always in conflict with another,” the author also added.

The 'Rich Like Us' novelist was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement award on November 25 at the fest.

(With PTI Inputs)