Filmmaker Prakash Jha was attacked on the sets of his upcoming web series Aashram 3 in Bhopal by a group of Bajrang Dal members who smeared ink on his face and also vandalised the sets, NDTV reported.
Members of the group reportedly alleged that Aashram starring Bobby Deol in the lead was an ‘assault’ on Hinduism. They threatened that they will not allow the show to be filmed till the title of the show was changed.
“They made Aashram 1, Aashram 2 and were shooting Ashram 3 here. Prakash Jha showed in Aashram that the guru was abusing women. Does he have the guts to make such a film on a church or madrasa? Who does he think he is?” Bajrang Dal leader Sushil Surhele told NDTV.
“Bajrang Dal challenges him, we won’t let him make this film. So far we have just blackened Prakash Jha’s face. We are looking for Bobby Deol. He should learn something from his brother (Sunny Deol). He made such patriotic movies,” he added.
Videos shot by a reporter on the scene showed Bajrang Dal members chasing down crew members, catching at least one of them and beating him with a metal light stand.
The police told the news organisation that nobody from Jha’s team has filed any charges, however, those involved will be identified and arrested.
“Action will be taken against those who disrupted the shooting and vandalised property today itself. They will be arrested,” senior police officer Irshad Wali said.
“Anti-social elements ransacked vehicles created trouble. Crew members of Aashram will be given fill security and it will be ensured this does not happen again,” he added.
Condoning the incident, the Producers Guild of India said in a statement, “The Producers Guild of India strongly condemns the brazen acts of violence, harassment and vandalism faced by the crew involved in the production of the series Ashram in Bhopal. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and the Guild is alarmed to note the frequency with which the production and exhibition sectors are severely and illegally disrupted by various elements with impunity”.
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However, filmmaker Hansal Mehta urged the Guild to directly address the authorities rather than issuing such statements.
Earlier in 2020, the web series had faced flak and a Jodhpur court has issued notices to Deol and Jha after an advocate moved the court claiming that the series hurts religious sentiments. Recently, in January this year, the makers were also booked by Rajasthan police for allegedly promoting discrimination against SC/STs.
The first season of the web series was released in August 2020 on the OTT platform MX player.