Padmaavat: Deepika swipes at Swara Bhasker over "vagina" remark, says she missed disclaimer for popcorn
Mumbai, Feb 2 (IBNS): Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has replied sarcastically to her industry-mate Swara Bhasker's open letter, where she alleged that Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial Padmaavat glorified practices like sati and jauhar and made her feel like she has been reduced to a vagina, media reports said.
Taking a dig at Swara, Deepika, in a recent interview with Bombay Times, said: "You (Swara) probably went out to buy some popcorn and missed the initial disclaimers that come out. "
"I think people miss the fact that this film was set in an era- in the 12th and 13th century when rituals like this were practiced."
A fresh controversy erupted few days ago when Swara had slammed Sanjay Leela Bhansali in an open letter for showing Rani Padmini (portrayed by Deepika onscreen) committing suicide in the film by jumping into fire.
Swara even said she felt like "reduced to a vagina" after watching the film. "Women have the right to live despite being raped, sir. Women have the right to live, despite the death of their husbands, male 'protectors', 'owners', 'controllers of their sexuality'.. whatever you understand the men to be," Swara wrote in her open letter.
Shahid Kapoor, who essayed the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh in the film, reacted to say: "When the entire film fraternity is standing with us, in such a situation this open letter looks a bit awkward. But she has written about her personal opinion, and everyone has the right to have one."
Not only from Padmaavat actors, Bhansali has received support from other Bollywood actors as well.
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri blasted Swara as a "fake feminist and an urban naxal."
"The problem is that these urban naxals have a very smart strategy. Their idea is to divide people, man vs woman and all that. and whatever you say they only think in sexual terms. They reduce everything to sex," he told a newspaper.
Taapsee Pannu, who was seen playing an independent woman's role in Pink, has contradicted Swara's comment.
On the sidelines of ongoing Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018, Taapsee told a news agency, "I think everyone has a right to their opinion. I, however, don’t agree with Swara. Just because we both are feminists doesn’t mean we have the same take".
Lending a comment on the Jauhar sequence in the film, she said: "I see films as films. I don’t bifurcate too much. Not every film should be seen that way. They were just trying to show what really happened. It’s not about what one should do. We should try to distinguish between the two."
After months long opposition from Shri Rajput Karni Sena to the release of Padmaavat, the film has hit the big screens on Jan 25.
The fringe groups had alleged that Bhansali portrayed Rani Padmini in poor light onscreen and also distorted history.
Apart from Deepika and Shahid, one of the main attractions of the film is Ranveer Singh, who played the role of Alauddin Khalji.
Images: facebook.com/DeepikaPadukone, facebook.com/SwaraBhaskar.
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