Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 2: Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker has responded to the criticism she faced online after calling the Jauhar sequence in Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmaavat “problematic”.

The actress questioned the portrayal of Jauhar in the 2018 film, particularly the sequence depicting women choosing death to avoid being captured and subjected to sexual violence. She questioned whether rape should be viewed as the end of a woman’s life.

Her remarks triggered strong reactions on social media, with several users criticising her views.

Responding to the backlash, Swara shared a post on her Instagram Stories defending her position. She wrote that it was surprising that many people, including women, were offended by the basic idea that rape survivors have the right to continue living after sexual assault.

The actress has previously been involved in several public controversies over her outspoken views on social and political issues.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmaavat stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. The film, released in 2018, faced controversy even before its release over its portrayal of historical characters and the Jauhar sequence.

Swara’s latest comments have once again sparked debate online over the depiction of Jauhar, women’s agency and the portrayal of sexual violence in Indian cinema.