Rajput outfits threaten boycott of Jodhaa Akbar

Under attack for allegedly distorting Rajput history in Jodhaa Akbar...

Under attack for allegedly distorting Rajput history in Jodhaa Akbar, Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowarikar is facing the ire of some community organisations that have threatened to boycott the big budget film due for a countrywide release in two weeks.

The organisations, which have been opposing the period film ever since shooting began around Amber Fort near here, say they will decide a “clear course of action” on Friday, but deny plans of blocking its screening across theatres in Rajasthan. They even suggested changing the title of the film, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, to Salim-Jodhaa after Mughal emperor Akbar’s son Jehangir, also known as Jehangir.

“Whatever Gowarikar is showing in his film is far removed from history. No Rajput can welcome this distorted version, but we have never said we will block the screening of the film,” Sabha president Narendra Singh Rajawat said on Thursday.

Asked about media reports to the contrary, he said: “If we had to block the film, we would have stopped its shooting. We are fighting it legally in court in a democratic manner.”

Rajawat said Jodha Bai was the daughter of Raja Udai Singh of Marwar and was married to Akbar’s son. “The problem can be solved if the film’s title is changed to Salim-Jodhaa.”

Another Rajput organisation, Karni Sena, has prepared a report on the “evidence collected from the film’s script” and will decide its course of action on Friday, its president Lokendra Singh Kalvi said.

He said either the film’s title should be changed or the state Government should “analyse the facts” to avoid any problems when it premieres on February 15.