The recently released action thriller Jaat has come under fire after an FIR was filed against its cast and makers, accusing them of hurting religious sentiments. The complaint, registered with the Jalandhar police, specifically targets a scene in the film that has reportedly offended members of the Christian community.
Actors Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, director Gopichand Malineni, and the film’s producers have been named in the FIR, which has been lodged under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The film, which hit theatres on April 10, is now facing allegations that certain scenes were crafted with the intention of provoking religious outrage.
According to a news channel, the complainant has alleged, “The director, writer and producer deliberately released this film during the holy month of Good Friday and Easter so that the Christians get angry and riots break out in the entire country and unrest is spread.”
The Christian community has expressed deep disappointment over a particular scene that depicts Randeep Hooda standing inside a church, beneath a crucifix above the sacred pulpit, while congregants are seen in prayer. The portrayal of hooliganism and intimidation within the church setting has been cited as especially offensive. Community members have called for a ban on the film and deemed the scene disrespectful.
Adding to the pressure, earlier this week, representatives from the community submitted a memorandum to the Joint Commissioner, requesting that the film be removed from theatres.
Jaat marks the Hindi directorial debut of Gopichand Malineni and is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory. The film stars Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda in lead roles, alongside a supporting cast that includes Saiyami Kher, Regina Cassandra, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Vineet Kumar Singh, Prashant Bajaj, Zarina Wahab, P. Ravi Shankar, and Babloo Prithiveeraj.
As the controversy unfolds, the filmmakers have yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
