Raja(King) and Praja(people) face to face on Jodhaa Akbar
India’s royal families in Northwestern Rajasthan have endorsed the making of the Bollywood period romance Jodhaa-Akbar, dismissing all controversies revolving around the story line.
Based on the love story of Mughal emperor Akbar and his Hindu wife Jodhaa, the movie has won appreciation from the royal families of Jaipur and Kishangarh for the extensive research done by the director, Ashutosh Gowarikar.
Although historical epic Jodhaa Akbar is facing trouble, with the Rajput community of Rajasthan threatening to stall the release of the movie in the state.
The community says Gowariker has distorted facts in his magnum opus which is to be released on Feb 15.
Narendra Singh Rajawat, head of the Rajput Sabha, said Gowariker is presenting Jodhabai as Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar’s wife, which is factually incorrect. He also said that Jodhabai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber near Jaipur as shown in the film.
Jodhabai was the daughter of Motaraja Udai Singh of Marwar and was married to Akbar’s son Salim alias Jehangir. And Mughal king Shahjahan was her son, he added.
Rajawat said such distortion of historical facts had hurt the feelings of the Rajput community. He urged the courts to restrain Gowariker from showing Jodhabai as the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber.
He said that the community would boycott the film.
“We are also approaching the high court against this,” informed Rajawat.
The president of the Rajput Karni Sena, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, is also up in arms against the director. He said the Sena had apprehended the distortion of Rajasthan’s historical facts in Jodhaa Akbar , which is based on the Jodhpur royal family.
“The Karni Sena would watch the movie when released and, if required, it would not allow the screening in the state,” said Kalvi.
Mahaveer Singh Sarwadi, a leader of the Shatriya Yuvak Singh, said: “We would oppose the release of the film if it shows the community in bad taste.”


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