‘Kedarnath’ makers defend Hindu-Muslim love story

The makers of Bollywood movie Kedarnath say they don’t intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments with the film, just days after a BJP leader wanted it banned for promoting ‘love jihad’.

At the trailer launch of Kedarnath, producer Ronnie Screwvala and director Abhishek Kapoor defended the film that features Sushant Singh Rajput and marks the debut of Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh.

“Firstly till date, nobody has approached us with anything that we can clarify. Secondly, our onus is to get the film censored and certified by the CBFC which is the sole body to decide on the film and thirdly, we all are creative people and we are Indians first. I do not think anyone of us will hurt any sentiment,” Screwvala said.

A BJP leader last week wrote a letter to the censor board chief Prasoon Joshi, bringing his attention to the setting of the film — a natural disaster that took place in 2013 at Kedarnath, a Hindu pilgrim centre — and its narrative wherein a Muslim man falls in love with a Hindu woman.

Screwvala has urged people to watch the film before making an opinion.

“I think controversy starts on any film before people watch it. I do not know how after just 60 seconds of watching the film [referring to the teaser], somebody forms such an opinion. Let somebody comment after watching the film, and we will be happy to give our feedback,” he added.

“We just released the teaser earlier, and now people can see a little more about the film in the trailer which clearly shows that there are no such things. We have shown a lot of love there in the film,” Kapoor said.

“When people see a teaser, they at times form their perspectives and opinion on that... But when they will watch the film, they will understand that we never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiment,” he added.

Rajput and Kahn were also present at the launch of the trailer.