Rajkummar Rao's Legal Battle Over Controversial Film Poster Resurfaces
Overview of the Legal Case
This week, a long-standing legal issue involving actor Rajkummar Rao came back into the spotlight due to a contentious promotional poster for his 2017 movie, Behen Hogi Teri. The case, which previously ignited religious tensions, was addressed in a Jalandhar court on Wednesday. Although Rao was not present initially, his lawyer, Darshan Singh Dayal, confirmed that the actor surrendered to the court on July 28 and was subsequently granted conditional bail.
Details of the Controversy
The controversy originated from a poster released on April 4, 2017, depicting Rajkummar Rao as Lord Shiva, casually seated on a silver motorcycle, wearing slippers and displaying a bored expression. The portrayal included elements like a crescent moon, rudraksh beads, and a license plate from Uttar Pradesh, reflecting his character in the film, who is part of a Jagran troupe.
However, this depiction led to backlash from certain groups, who claimed it insulted religious sentiments. Consequently, an FIR was lodged under several sections, including:
- Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings)
- Section 120B (criminal conspiracy)
- Section 67 of the IT Act (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form)
On May 26, 2017, director Ajay K Pannalal and producer Tony D’Souza were arrested in Mumbai due to the controversy but were later released on bail. The initial complaint was filed in 2017 by Ishant Sharma, a Hindu leader and film producer, at Police Division No. 5 in Jalandhar.
Sharma's complaint asserted that the portrayal of Lord Shiva was disrespectful and hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Reports indicate that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had recommended the removal of a scene where Rao, as Lord Shiva, falls off a bike, as it could be deemed offensive. Nevertheless, the film received a U/A certificate and was released on June 9, 2017, without any cuts.
Latest Developments
Rajkummar Rao appeared before the Jalandhar court on July 28 regarding the case linked to Behen Hogi Teri. Following his appearance, he was granted conditional bail.
According to his advocate, the challan was submitted in court without the actor's presence. The summons had been sent to an address in Delhi, which led to the misunderstanding, as Rao resides in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Shruti Hassan was acquitted after the court found her innocent, and a petition from director Ajay K Pannalal is currently pending.
About 'Behen Hogi Teri'
Behen Hogi Teri is a romantic comedy featuring Rajkummar Rao and Shruti Haasan, directed by Ajay K Pannalal. The film did not perform well at the box office, grossing approximately Rs 3.06 crore globally. Critics largely panned the film, although they acknowledged Rao's performance as a standout amidst the weak storyline and poor writing. Recently, Rao was seen in the film Maalik.