Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has strongly defended the controversial Hindi film ‘Phule’, criticizing the backlash it has faced and highlighting the issues of caste-based discrimination and an ineffective censorship system.

‘Phule’, directed by Anant Mahadevan, is a biographical drama that tells the story of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, visionary social reformers who campaigned for education and against caste and gender discrimination in 19th-century India.

The film’s release has been delayed due to protests from certain Brahmin groups, who claim it misrepresents their community.

On Wednesday, Kashyap took to Instagram to express his views on the matter, sharing his personal connection to the subject. He reminisced, “The first play I ever did was about Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. If casteism did not exist in this country, why would they have had to fight against it?”

In a pointed post, he questioned the protestors’ outrage, stating, “These Brahmin groups are either ashamed or living in a parallel Brahmin India we can’t see. Who’s the real fool here?”

He expressed particular frustration over how certain groups seem to access unreleased films before they go through official reviews. “When a film is submitted to the censor board, only four people view it. So, how are these fringe groups watching it ahead of its public release? Who’s leaking it? The whole system is rigged,” he claimed.

Responding to a comment on his post, he took a direct approach, stating, “Brahmins pe main… koi problem?”—a remark that ignited additional debate online.

The film aims to celebrate the revolutionary efforts of the Phules, who fought to ensure that girls had access to education at a time when such opportunities were largely unavailable, especially for those from lower castes.

Directed by Mahadevan and featuring a cast led by Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha Paul, ‘Phule’ was initially set to be released soon but now faces an indefinite postponement due to the ongoing controversy.

Brahmin groups argue that the film casts them in a negative light, while its supporters contend that it simply portrays historical realities that some may prefer to overlook.

Last year, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal celebrated their marriage, which prompted a significant amount of conversation among internet users due to its interfaith nature. Known for her candidness, the ‘Lootera’ actress doesn’t shy away from addressing negativity. Recently, she clapped back at a troll who boldly claimed that divorce was on the horizon for her.

In a comment on one of her Instagram posts, a user wrote, “Your divorce is too close to you.” Sonakshi quickly responded, “Pehele teri mummy papa karenge, phir hum. Promise.” (Translation: “First, your parents will get a divorce. Then we will, promise.”)

In an earlier interview with Hauterrfly, Sonakshi spoke fondly of their interfaith marriage, saying, “We weren’t focused on religion. We are two people in love who wanted to get married, and that’s exactly what we did. He doesn’t impose his religion on me, nor do I on him. We’ve never really discussed religion; instead, we appreciate and embrace each other’s cultures. They have traditions in their home, and I have mine. We respect each other’s cultures just as they respect my family.”

Sonakshi and Zaheer exchanged vows on June 23, 2024, after dating for seven years. In a heartfelt announcement, Sonakshi shared, “On this very day, seven years ago (23.06.2017), we saw love in its purest form in each other’s eyes and decided to hold on to it. Today, that love has guided us through all challenges and triumphs, leading to this moment where, with the blessings of our families and our gods, we are now husband and wife.”

On the professional front, Sonakshi’s latest project was ‘Kakuda,’ alongside Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem. Up next, she stars in ‘Nikita Roy and The Book of Darkness’ along with Paresh Rawal and Suhail Nayyar.

The action-packed film ‘Jaat,’ which marks Sunny Deol’s return following ‘Gadar 2,’ premiered in theaters on April 10. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, the movie stars Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda in key roles. However, the film recently faced legal issues, with an FIR filed against the creators in Jalandhar, Punjab, due to backlash from the Christian community over scenes perceived to have offended their religious sentiments. In light of this controversy, the filmmakers have issued an official statement.

The makers of ‘Jaat’ acknowledged the criticism, stating, “We have received backlash regarding a particular scene in the film. Effective immediately, we have removed that scene. It was never our intention to offend anyone’s religious beliefs, and we sincerely apologize to those who felt hurt.” In response to the criticism and police complaint, the controversial sequence has been excised from the final cut of the film.

For those unfamiliar, the issue arose from a sequence where Randeep Hooda appears inside a church under a crucifix while a congregation prays. The scene includes elements of violence and intimidation within the church’s confines.

Co-produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory, ‘Jaat’ features music by S Thaman and cinematography by Rishi Punjabi, with editing by Naveen Nooli and art direction by Avinash Kolla. This film marks Gopichand Malineni’s debut in Hindi cinema. Besides Deol and Hooda, the cast includes Saiyami Kher and Regina Cassandra.

Subsequently, due to a disappointing box office performance, the makers announced a sequel titled ‘Jaat 2’ on April 17. Sunny Deol took to Instagram to share the news, posting a poster and writing, “#Jaat on to a New Mission! #Jaat2.” The sequel will also be directed by Gopichand Malineni, with Mythri Movie Makers returning for production. As of now, it’s unclear if other cast members will reprise their roles alongside Sunny Deol.