Political analyst and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday, 18 September sharply criticised Bollywood actor Swara Bhaskar over her remarks on the Ram Janmabhoomi Supreme Court verdict, demanding that the 'mentality of demeaning the Hindu community must stop.' The remarks come after Bhaskar revealed she had reached out to Muslim acquaintances — including superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan — to express solidarity following the verdict, stating she felt 'ashamed' and did not agree with the Supreme Court's judgment.

What Poonawalla Said

Speaking to reporters, Poonawalla issued a pointed rebuke: 'Swara Bhasker, please stop now! Because this anti-Hindu stance, anti-national rhetoric and constant belittling of Hindus must end. The verdict on the Ram Mandir came through the Supreme Court — and these people claim to champion 'saving the Constitution'. Do Rahul Gandhi and Swara Bhasker believe that the wisdom of the Supreme Court was flawed?'

He argued that Hindu society had set the 'finest example' by sustaining its centuries-long struggle for the Ram Janmabhoomi through constitutional means, describing it as a 500-year movement that ultimately found resolution in law rather than conflict.

The Jauhar Controversy Revisited

Poonawalla also addressed Bhaskar's earlier remarks revisiting her eight-year-old open letter to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali about the film Padmaavat. Bhaskar had suggested that the depiction of thousands of women committing Jauhar to protect their 'honour' could make rape survivors today appear like 'cowards' for choosing to live.

Poonawalla pushed back, saying: 'Hindu daughters, mothers, and women faced the mindset of invaders like (Alauddin) Khilji, whose mentality was akin to that of ISIS...At that time, those women felt that choosing Jauhar was an exercise of bodily autonomy — a decision not to submit to sexual violation. You cannot judge Jauhar with today's standards; in our current constitutional framework, a rape survivor has options to live her life and seek justice. But that was not the case back then.'

He concluded: 'This mentality, of whitewashing Khilji while demeaning Hindu society, must stop.'

Reality Show Angle

Notably, both Poonawalla and Bhaskar are reportedly set to participate in an upcoming reality show together. When asked whether a working relationship on the show was possible, Poonawalla was categorical: 'There can be no question of friendship or alliance with someone who is opposed to the nation and Hindu society.'

Background and Context

The Ram Janmabhoomi verdict was delivered by the Supreme Court in November 2019, granting the disputed site in Ayodhya for construction of a Ram temple. The judgment was unanimous. Bhaskar's disclosure of her reaction to the verdict has reignited a long-running debate over how public figures in the entertainment industry engage with politically sensitive religious issues in India. Critics argue that such statements by celebrities carry disproportionate cultural weight, while Bhaskar's supporters contend she was expressing legitimate personal dissent.

All eyes will now be on whether Bhaskar responds publicly to Poonawalla's remarks, and how the dynamic between the two plays out on their upcoming shared platform.