Just when Bollywood enthusiasts were looking forward to Jodhaa Akbar, allegations are levelled that the film's maker Ashutosh Gowariker has distorted history and so should not be allowed to screen it. But the charges may not hold water.
Industry insiders point out that the movie releasing Feb 15 is just a dramatised account of a historical period. Gowariker may also be on solid ground as he claims to have read Akbarnama and consulted reputed historians like Irfan Habib.
Produced by UTV Motion Pictures, the magnum opus starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai weaves its content around the romance between Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar and Rajput princess Jodha Bai.
Although Maharani of Jaipur Rani Padmini, a direct descendant of Jodha Bai, has showered praises on Gowariker for maintaining historical accuracy, the Karni Sena, a Rajput community organisation, is accusing him of distorting facts.
Its members have burnt film posters in Jaipur and moved court to stay the film's release even though they are yet to see the film.
According to the Karni Sena, Jodha Bai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber near Jaipur; her father was Motaraja Udai Singh of Marwar and she was married to Akbar's son Salim alias Jehangir.
All this when a section of historians says the queen's lineage is shrouded in mystery.
Pointed out Ashish Saxena of PVR Films: "Ashutosh never said it's a biopic. He always maintained that it is 80 percent fiction and 20 percent history."
Producers who have faced similar controversies are on Gowariker's side.
"Whenever you choose a book or some incidents from history, people always compare and complain about deviating from the original," said Ritesh Sidhwani, who produced films like Dil Chahta Hai and Don - The Chase Begins.
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