Celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was attacked by the members of Rajput Karni Sena on the sets of his upcoming period drama Padmavati in Jaipur on Friday. Rajput Karni Sena protested against alleged intimate scenes featuring Rani Padmavati.
Bhansali was slapped and manhandled, an incident which generated strong words of condemn from Bollywood celebs. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the tag - '#IStandBySLB' are top Twitter trends on Friday, with tweets pouring in from Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor, Karan Johar, Hrithik Roshan, Anushka Sharma and others.
"It's appalling to hear what happened to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I'm so saddened," wrote Priyanka Chopra, who has worked with the director in Bajirao Mastani.
"This is the time for all us as an industry to stand by our people and fraternity," tweeted Karan Johar. "Appalled and horrified by what happened on SLB set. NO amount of diff of opinion or disagreement justifies this pathetic behaviour (sic)," read Anushka's tweet. "Did random people enter another person's workplace and raise their hand on him because they decide they don't like what he does? I am enraged!" Hrithik Roshan wrote on Twitter.
Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone as protagonist Rani Padmavati while actors Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh and play Padmavati's husband Raja Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji respectively. Actor Sanjay Dutt is also expected to make a special appearance in the period film.
It's appalling to hear what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali .im so saddened..Violence is not what our forefathers taught us..
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) January 27, 2017
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!
— Rishi Kapoor -"Book" (@chintskap) January 28, 2017
Who has made these 'gundas' the upholders of my country's morality and history .. my India is not so parochial #SanjayLeelaBhansali
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) January 27, 2017
Did random people enter another persons workplace n raise their hand on him because dey decide dey don't like what he does? I am enraged!!!
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) January 27, 2017
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??
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 27, 2017
Artists (or anyone!) can not be at the mercy of goons.
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) January 27, 2017
Anyone who truly values their history doesn't attack, they study. They don't care about history, they want headlines. #SanjayLeelaBhansali
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) January 27, 2017
What happened on Padmavati sets is appalling and heinous. Is this the state of the world.
— Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) January 27, 2017
Mr. Bhansali , Sir. I stand with you. This is so infuriating!!!!
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) January 27, 2017
Appalled & horrified by what happened on SLB set.NO amount of diff of opinion or disagreement justifies this pathetic behaviour. Shameful!
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) January 27, 2017
Karan Johar, who faced the wrath of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena during the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, tweeted:
Thoughts of what has transpired with Sanjay Bhansali today are just not leaving me!! Feeling helpless and angry!! This cannot be our future!
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 27, 2017
I agree with you @karanjohar ! We need to stand together & stand firm against this nonsense . Enough is enough ! #istandwithsanjaybhansali https://t.co/SI7hYOsH0L
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) January 27, 2017
Sad to see how people have become 2day. Violence is never the medium4 communication. There are others ways to make a point.#SanjayBhansali
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) January 27, 2017
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..
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017
My fellow film folk, if we do not unite now against these recurring incidents of bullying, it's going to get much worse. #IstandbySLB
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017
I am appalled and deeply saddened to hear that #SanjayLeelaBhansali was attacked. There are non violent ways to protest, this is criminal.
— Soha Ali Khan (@sakpataudi) January 28, 2017