Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda’s latest film Jaat, which hit theatres on April 10, has found itself at the center of controversy. A specific scene has drawn criticism from members of the Christian community, who took offense to a portrayal inside a church. In the scene, a group of hooligans storm the church while Randeep Hooda’s character, Ranatunga, is shown standing in a pose that closely resembles Christ’s crucifixion. This imagery led to an FIR being filed against Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, and several others associated with the film, citing the hurting of religious sentiments.
Addressing the controversy in an interview, director Gopichand Malineni explained that changes had already been made to the film following guidance from the censor board. “The censor board didn’t mention anything for the trailer cut, but later, it told us to blur the background in the film print. It was done even before people objected. If a film has to be a blockbuster, it has to be watched by as many people as possible. No filmmaker wants to hurt any people or community. We want to entertain them,” he said.
In response to the public outcry, the makers of Jaat released an official statement on Friday confirming the removal of the controversial church scene. They also extended an apology, emphasizing that the intention was never to hurt anyone’s religious beliefs.
While the film continues its theatrical run, this development has opened up yet another debate around religious sensitivities in cinema and the fine line between storytelling and offense.
