Prakash Raj says Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal should release: ‘Let people decide…govt allowing bans to create fear in society'

Indian Express

04-05-2025

Prakash Raj firmly stands against the ban of any film, irrespective of its ideology. He said public sentiments are getting hurt at the drop of a hat these days. The actor quoted the examples of Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmaavat (2018), Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan (2023), and more recently, Prithviraj Sukumaran's L2: Empuraan and Fawad Khan-starrer Abir Gulaal.
'I'm not for any banning of films, whether it's right-wing or a propaganda film. Let people decide. People have the right. You can't ban films, unless it's pornography or about child abuse. But thought process? So what? Let them come, no,' said Prakash, reacting to the ban of Aarti S Bagdi's romantic drama Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the lead role.
He further said in the interview to The Lallantop, 'Today, anybody can get hurt. 'I'll chop off the nose of Deepika Padukone! I'll behead her!' Useey kya hoga (what effect would that have?). Shah Rukh Khan… just because of a colour? Besharam rang na… they can make a hue and cry about anything they don't like.' Prakash Raj was referring to the Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatening to chop off Deepika's nose if her film Padmaavat is released, which allegedly distorted Rajput history. He also referred to a section of society objecting to the saffron bikini worn by Deepika in the song 'Besharam Rang' from Siddharth Anand's spy thriller Pathaan.
'The present power is letting it happen. They're giving them enough support to let it happen, to create a fear in society,' argued Prakash. 'Certain films are not being made in this country. They will not let it because there's censorship. There was state censorship. Now, they've clearly brought it to Central censorship. They decide what's made. Film industry is a very vulnerable industry. There's money. So their whole idea is to bring so much of fear so that the next generation decides not to even write what they otherwise would. They don't want this discourse,' added the actor.
Prakash Raj quoted the example of L2: Empuraan, which was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification. But after objections were raised towards the alleged depiction of the 2002 violence in Godhra, Gujarat, lead actor Mohanlal issued an apology. Certain cuts were made to the film subsequently. 'The Kashmir Files will release. But some other films won't. There's a conscious attempt that every party will do. Today, it's BJP, but it happened before also. Every powerful central government is always intolerant of questioning. That's why anybody you give too much power to, will become intolerable,' added Prakash.