Padmaavat writer Prakash Kapadia has reacted to Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker's remarks on the movie's Jauhar scene. He cited deep research and historial accuracy in the scene, saying, "the situation was that of ‘do or die’."
Padmaavat writer defends Jauhar scene
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Prakash Kapadia said, "We made the film according to our research and what is written in history books."
"Every person interprets the film differently. What we showed including the jauhar scene was the reality of those times, it cannot be changed now. The situation was that of ‘do or die’. Woh log (the male warriors) kesariya kar ke utare thhe," he further added.
Reacting to Swara Bhasker calling the portrayal 'problematic', Kapadia stated that he hasn't been following her comments and feels the controversy is unnecessary.
He noted, "It depends on the person’s mood, even if it’s a good film and you watch it with a bad state of mind you will find it bekaar. It’s also about intention; whether you are going as a viewer, or watching it to find something controversial, or to find negativity."
He concluded, "With Padmaavat, people had raised objection even before watching the film and had protested on the streets. The same conversation is continuing years later, so what can I say, let people say what they want to."
What did Swara Bhasker say about Padmaavat's Jauhar scene?
While speaking at the Woman Life Freedom talk at the India International Centre in Delhi, Swara Bhasker said, "I was watching it and I thought that if God forbid, I was a rape survivor, what is this film telling me? I would feel like a coward that I didn’t commit suicide to save my honour."
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Actor Swara Bhasker defends her remarks against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) September 1, 2026
According to Bhasker, Hindu women who committed jauhar or suicide were "COWARDS" because they chose to die over the prospect of leading their lives as concubines of Muslim invaders.…
"Is that what you want to tell in a society like ours where I feel like anyway there is a rape epidemic. Is this what we want to tell our survivors that they don’t deserve to live, that if you actually would have be a honourable and brave women, you would have killed yourself. Are we saying that rape is end of a woman’s life? This scene was so problematic."
Several netizens slammed Swara for her remarks, calling her 'insensitive'.
FAQs
Where to watch Padmaavat online?
Padmaavat is available to watch on Netflix.
Did Swara Bhasker apologise?
No. Swara Bhasker did not apologise, but she clarified her remarks on social media.