‘Parzania’ may get Bollywood support

AHMEDABAD: It seems Bollywood may finally take a stand against Bajrang Dal’s attempt to stop the screening of Parzania in Gujarat. Film director Mahesh Bhatt has approached the Film Producers’ Guild to oppose this decision of Gujarat exhibitors by not releasing movies in Gujarat.

Bhatt is hopeful that the otherwise “apathetic” industry will finally take a unified stand. “I have proposed that we blacklist the state and not release our products. I know many will disagree, and if they do, they will stand exposed with their customary apathetic attitude,” Bhatt told DNA on Wednesday.  He added that it was about time the industry took a unified stand, otherwise there would be no end to such political arm-twisting.

“Film industry is not a community that can unite and respond to crisis from the political class. When my film Zakhm ran into trouble, no one from the industry supported me. The overall attitude is ‘what have I got to do with it, let’s not get involved’,” he said. 

Activist Teesta Setalvad said Babu Bajrangi, who has allegedly threatened Gujarat’s exhibitors with violence if Parzania is released, is himself the prime accused in riots. “That an accused decides which movies should be screened says a lot about the law and order situation of ‘Vibrant’ Gujarat’,” Setalvad said.