Bollywood condemns attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali on set of "Padmavati"

Mumbai: Bollywood has condemned the attack on director Sanjay Leela Bhansali by activists of a Rajput community during the shooting of his upcoming film 'Padmavati', and called for a united stand by the film industry to ensure safety of artistes. The entire who's who of the film industry, from filmmakers Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Sanjay Gupta, Madhur Bhandarkar, Hansal Mehta, Onir, Ram Gopal Verma, Nikhil Advani , Abhishek Kapoor and Mukesh Bhatt to actors Hrithik Roshan, Huma Qureshi, Yami Gautam, Riteish Deshmukh, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee and lyricist Sameer condemned the attack on Bhansali yesterday by activists of a Rajput outfit.

A group of activists force-stopped the shooting of 'Padmavati', being helmed by Bhansali, by vandalising the movie set at Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur and also assaulted him, alleging distortion of facts. Condemning the attack on Bhansali, filmmaker Karan Johar said, 'Am appalled at what has happened with Sanjay Bhansali....this is the time for all us as an industry to stand by our people and fraternity!!' Expressing his full support for Bhansali, Karan said, 'Having been through many instances of turmoil during a film shoot or release...i understand Sanjay's emotion at this point...I stand by him.' In a strong condemnation of the attack on the filmmaker, Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan said,' 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!!! ' In another tweet, Hrithik, who starred in bhansali 's 'Guzaarish', said, 'Mr Bhansali , Sir I stand with you.

This is so infuriating!!!! ' In a sharp reaction on the attack on Bhansali, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap said, '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?' 'you hit an artiste you hit the soul of the country. appalling!!,' actor Manoj Bajpayee said. Writer Chetan Bhagat also condemned the attack and said, "'It has seemingly become okay to bully artistes in the country. It is time all artistes stand together against such goons #Padmavati.' Actor Anushka Sharma also condemned the attack on the director. 'Appalled & horrified by what happened on SLB set.

No amount of diff of opinion or disagreement justifies this pathetic behaviour. Shameful! ,'Anushka said 'It's’s a movie guys. You get that? Let me say it again, it’s a movie! Get over your shit! Really upset to hear about Sanjay Leela Bhansali,' actor Uday Chopra said. Sonam Kapoor, who made her debut in Bhansali 's 'Saawaria', also termed the incident as appalling. 'What happened on Padmavati sets is appalling and heinous. Is this the state of the world.,' Sonam said in a tweet. Fìlmmaker Sanjay Gupta too condemned the attack and said, "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!.' Filmmaker Onir said ,'People should be held accountable for this shameful act.Horrified by what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali #Padmavati sets.' 'Our silence=Their strength. Our sycophancy=Our weakness. Our cowardice=Their brazenness. Fraternity=Target. F..k you Karni sena & your ilk,' filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted.

In a strong condemnation of the incident, Filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma said, 'Bhansali is an artiste and if any country cannot protect its artistes from street hooligans it doesn't deserve to be called a country.' Actors Huma Qureshi, Bipasha Basu and filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor also condemned the attack. In his first reaction on the attack, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali said, "Sometimes, have to go through this humiliation to make a film in this country." #Padmavati' (UNI)