Since the last few years, a Twitter trend has been gaining pace — #BoycottBollywood, which seeks a complete audience withdrawal from the Hindi film industry. It takes many shapes and forms, often specifically geared towards an upcoming film, actor, or in one of its latest avatars, #BoycottBollywoodCompletely.

On September 6, Hindu outfits halted Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji from entering Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The information about their visit was shared by Alia Bhatt on her Instagram account, where she had said she would leave for Ujjain in Tuesday with the film crew from the upcoming film Brahmastra.

As Bajrang Dal got this information about their visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple of Hindus, one of the most revered Jyotirlinga, the organization’s brave activists gathered outside the Temple and protested in their all capacity to stop them. The moment team reached the Temple for Darshan to appease Hindu sentiments, they were welcomed by Bajrang Dal activists with slogans of Jai Shri Ram and a few more which you can hear in the video, won't look nice to write them down here. As per the videos on social media platforms, the activists formed a large group to stop Alia Bhatt (daughter of Mahesh Bhatt) and Kapoor from entering the Temple.

It is notable that recently several videos of the members of team Brahmastra started making rounds on social media, out of which one was an old clip on Ranbir Kapoor where he had admitted he was a ‘beef lover’. Irked by the statement, Bajrang Dal activists stopped him and his wife Alia Bhatt, who is also his co-star in the upcoming film Brahmastra, from entering the Temple.

Mahakal Police were also present at the scene. They restored to Lathi Charge to disperse the activists. However, the Hindu organizations prevented the star duo from entering the Temple, and they returned without darshan. However, other members were able to offer prayers at the Temple later.

The Indian Express’s Special Correspondent from Ujjain, Anuraag Singh, uploaded and shared a few videos of the incident that took place in front of the temple. Bajrang Dal District President Ankit Chaubey said, “We are here to protest against (Big beef Guy) Ranbir Kapoor. He has given derogatory comments against Gau Mata.” He further objected to the lathi charge done by the Police and said, “We will intensify the protests and will not allow Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt to enter the Temple. Ranbir Kapoor said on camera that eating beef is good. Bajrang Dal will not allow a beef-eater from entering the Temple.”

Chaubey further added that Bajrang Dal activists were protesting peacefully and were at the spot to show black flags. 

Boycott calls against Brahmastra

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer film Brahmastra is scheduled for release on September 9. Apart from the duo, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, and Mouni Roy are also in Ayan Mukerji’s directed film. Ahead of the release, there have been boycott calls due to the previous statements given by the cast members, including Ranbir and Alia. It is notable that the film was written to be based on Rumi, a Sufi saint, but later it was changed to connect it to Hindu mythology.

Karan Johar has spoken out about the backlash that Bollywood has been facing lately. Karan, who has often been subjected to massive trolling for allegedly favoring star kids, has said that he has decided to focus only on the positive things.

While interacting with the Indian Express, he said, “I think that you have to turn a blind eye towards negativity in general.” He said that one needs to be positive from within, in order to attract positivity. While expressing that by listening and reacting to negative things you attract the same energy, he said, “I have shut it out of life and I choose to focus only on positivity.”

Meanwhile, at a promotional event of Brahmastra in Hyderabad on Friday, Karan Johar said that it’s about time people should stop demarcating between Bollywood, Tollywood, and other film industries.

“We’re not in the woods anymore," added KJo. He also thanked Jr NTR for gracing the event as a chief guest.

Brahmastra–a mythological thriller that features action, drama, romance, and VFX effects–stars Ayan Mukerji’s long-time friends Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, who also got married recently. The film also stars Telugu actor Nagarjuna, Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Mouni Roy, along with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. It is expected to release on September 9.

The undeniable truth is that the boycott calls for Laal Singh Chaddha (LSC) worked. The proof is in the numbers. No Aamir Khan film has had a weaker opening day in the last 20 years—Rs 11.7 crore on Day 1. People just didn’t turn up. Even Khan’s last big dud, Thugs of Hindostan, had the first-day collection of more than Rs 52 crore. And among all the leading stars in Hindi films, he possibly possesses the best marketing brain.

It is finally the market that decides. Filmmakers have every right to make movies the way they want to and to tell stories the way they have imagined them. And the audience too is free to like or dislike or censure them.

What we have witnessed over the last few weeks indicates an important new factor in the Hindi film market—a political/ ideological one. Or, as some would say, overtly ideological. Because those who campaigned against LSC allege that ever since Independence, a powerful clique in the Hindi film industry has been subtly propagating “leftist” and “Hinduphobic” dogmas, so now it’s time to fight back—vote with the feet and the wallets.

The next year will see some of the biggest-budget films ever made in India get released. Including some Hindi films, which are already being suspected of being “anti-Hindu”, and some south Indian ones, which are being accused of pushing the Hindutva agenda. It will be very interesting to watch how the market decides

#BoycottBramhashtra Request to CM @Naveen_Odisha to not let any movie of Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone release in Odisha. Insult of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Ji should not be tolerated. #BoycottBollywood pic.twitter.com/zkKz3sQE3N — Satyaagrah (@satyaagrahindia) September 7, 2022

Koo App #WATCH| Film Director Ayan Mukerji responds to protests held outside Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain against Alia&Ranbir allegedly over Ranbir’s old beef-eating comment "I was feeling really bad that Ranbir & Alia did not come with me for darshan at Mahakaleshwar temple," he says View attached media content - Satyaagrah (@SatyaagrahIndia) 7 Sep 2022

The first review of Brahmastra is out from Dubai It is a DISASTER #BoycottBramhashtra #BhaktHainParSakhtHain 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/J9WmBJn0RG — Satyaagrah (@satyaagrahindia) September 7, 2022

References:

opindia.com