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MUMBAI: Last month, Junaid Khan's first film in the Hindi film industry, Maharaj, was made available on Netflix, but not without controversy. Just hours before Maharaj was scheduled to go live on streaming services, the Gujarat High Court temporarily halted the film's distribution. Hindu organisations petitioned for the stay, saying the movie offended religious feelings. The film was eventually made available on Netflix when the stay was removed. Now, Junaid and Siddharth P. Malhotra, the movie's director, has discussed the release and the process of making the movie.
Also read: Maharaj: Junaid Khan on the film’s legal issues, ‘We were all…’
The Maharaj Libel Case, a genuine court case from 1862, served as the model for Maharaj. Along with Jaideep Ahlawat as Jadunath Maharaj and Junaid as journalist Karsandas Mulji, it also has Shalini Pandey and Sharvari in supporting parts.Director Siddharth P. Malhotra spoke about his emotional rollercoaster trip during the film's release. He said,“This is the story of an unsung hero that should be told. This is the whole journey of a hero. And he is fighting for women's rights, for everything. So a script was made, it was approved, Junaid was narrated, Jaideep sir and all the other actors came. The film was also made. But the period of release was very painful.”
He further added, “For waiting and then what happened because they say, never judge a book by its cover. So we got a cover, a poster. And the judgement was done. So that was a big pain. I cried a lot. I literally cried. My father Prem Kishen, my mother, everyone came home and supported me. But now I am when the film was released, for which we had made the film with a pure intention for that it is being judged and it is being seen that there is nothing anti in it, it is pro-religion it is pro-humanity. I am happy that Junaid is getting a lot of praise, Jaideep sir is getting a lot of praise, writing is getting lauded, dialogues are being quoted, and my work is also being appreciated.”
During the conversation with an entertainment portal, Junaid opened up about how he was inspired by the story of Karsandas Mulji, "He was a real person who in 1862 was talking about those things which even today are happening. It happens in society today. And it happens in every society. And at that time he was fighting about it. When we didn't have that much knowledge. So I found the character and the story very inspirational. That there is a man who had so much understanding back then."
The film was produced by the well known Yash Raj Films Entertainment. After the stay on its release was lifted, YRF thanked the judiciary through an official statement. "We are grateful to the judiciary for allowing the release of 'Maharaj,' a film that celebrates one of the most important social reformers of our country, Karsandas Mulji. Yash Raj Films has a 50-year-old legacy of championing India, its stories, its people, culture & heritage. We have never produced a film that tarnished the reputation of our country or our countrymen.” Finally, Maharaj is currently streaming on Netflix.
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Credit:Dna India
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