Mahesh Bhatt on AIB Knockout: If Alia can be booked, why not Sonakshi Sinha

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, father of Alia Bhatt who was part of the show audience, believes there is a conspiracy at play. “Alia was a participant and also subjected to the humour. The FIR names Deepika Padukone and Alia among the participants. Why not the other 3,998 attendees of the show? More importantly, if it names celebrities in the audience, why not Sonakshi Sinha,” he asked, drawing links to the latter’s actor father and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha. Sonakshi was also seated in the audience and subjected to similar jokes by the show’s participants. “Clearly, certain forces are orchestrating this series of events. The answer is in my question,” he said.

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While one section justifies the action, another is vocal in its support for their freedom of expression and of the view that administrators are “stretching the issue too far”.

Screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, also member of the Film Writers’ Association (FWA) committee, said the latest developments were dangerous and posed threat to the freedom of expression of artistes. The FWA had last week issued a letter stating that AIB and the Bollywood participants had their support.

Prominent lyricist and actor Swanand Kirkire said the court order might instil fear in artistes that will eventually curb their creativity. “This is ridiculous, what kind of a world are they trying to make? What business does the state have in what people want to say…? This may put fear into the minds of artistes,” he rued.