Madhur Bhandarkar’s upcoming political thriller Indu Sarkar found itself in a fresh controversy after a woman claiming to be Sanjay Gandhi’s daughter alleged that the film portrays the late Congress leader and his mother Indira Gandhi in a bad light. Priya Singh Paul, a Gurgaon resident even sent a legal notice to the filmmaker last month on the same issue.
Now, Bhandarkar has responded to the allegations levelled by Paul. “Our clients do not admit your locus and hence our clients will not be replying to your letter on merits until you prove and establish the locus,” the statement from the National Award winning filmmaker’s lawyer said.
Paul had claimed that she was adopted as a baby and came to know that Sanjay Gandhi was her biological father after she grew up.
“Secondly, though your clients may have rights as an Indian citizen, please note that the same cannot entitle your clients to interfere with our clients’ rights to produce a feature film in accordance with the law. Our clients have made a feature film in accordance with the law and are entitled to release the same,” the statement added. At a press conference, Paul had claimed that she was not seeking media attention but misrepresentation in the film forced her to break the silence.
Also read: No Indu Sarkar in Indore, Congress workers threaten to vandalise theatres and create violence
“The filmmakers have admitted that the film is 30 per cent facts and 70 per cent fiction. But these so-called facts
lead to a fiction. This has been cleverly done to influence a reasonable viewer to make an obvious connection,” she said,” PTI quoted Paul as saying.
“Our clients say and submit that your entire letter is nothing but a vague claim and in fact amounts to attempt to extort moneyfrom our clients,” the legal statement read.
Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, Indu Sarkar is based on the emergency proclaimed on the midnight of June 26, 1975 during the tenure of Indira Gandhi. The film features Supriya Vinod, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anupam Kher and Kirti Kulhari in pivotal roles. The film releases on July 28. Watch the trailer of the movie here.
Also read: CBFC says no NOC required from the Gandhi family for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar
