Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Swara Bhasker’s Johar Remarks Trigger Agra Protest and Threat
Swara Bhasker spoke about a scene involving johar in the film Padmaavat.
Johar refers to women dying by fire during a historical conflict.
She questioned whether films should present this as an honorable choice.
She said this could hurt or confuse people who survived rape.
A group in Agra disagreed strongly with her comments.
Protesters burned and trampled her posters.
The group’s leader announced a ₹1.51 lakh reward for someone to cut her tongue.
Bhasker later said she respected the historical women and was criticizing modern glorification, not calling them cowards.
Protests erupted in Agra after actor Swara Bhasker questioned the portrayal of johar in Padmaavat.
Yogi Youth Brigade leader Kunwar Ajay Tomar led a protest where Bhasker’s posters were burned and trampled.
Tomar announced a ₹1.51 lakh reward for anyone who cuts Bhasker’s tongue and used abusive language against her.
Bhasker questioned whether portraying johar as honorable could send a troubling message to rape survivors.
Bhasker later clarified that she was not calling Rani Padmavati or the other women cowards, but was questioning what modern films glorify.
- Who
- Actor Swara Bhasker, Yogi Youth Brigade state president Kunwar Ajay Tomar, and protesters in Agra.
- What
- Bhasker’s comments about johar in Padmaavat prompted a protest, poster burning, and a violent threat against her.
- When
- The protest took place on a Tuesday; Bhasker made the remarks on August 31.
- Where
- The protest occurred in Agra, while Bhasker made the remarks at the India International Centre in Delhi.
- Why
- Tomar and the protesters said Bhasker had questioned the courage and sacrifice of Rani Padmavati and Rajput women; Bhasker said she was questioning the modern glorification of johar and expressing concern for rape survivors.
Bhasker’s Position
Protesters’ Position
How johar should be portrayed
Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker questioned whether films should glorify johar as an act of honor, saying this could suggest that women’s purity is more valuable than their lives.
Protesters’ Position
Tomar criticized Bhasker for questioning the courage and sacrifice of Rani Padmavati and other Rajput women who performed johar.
Meaning of Bhasker’s comments
Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker clarified that she was not calling the historical women cowards and was instead discussing what modern films choose to glorify.
Protesters’ Position
The protesters treated her remarks as showing a lack of understanding of the historical circumstances and the women’s sacrifice.
Impact on survivors
Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker said rape survivors should never feel that surviving makes them less courageous.
Protesters’ Position
The protest response focused on defending the honor and historical legacy associated with johar.
- Person at center of controversy
- Film actor Swara Bhasker
- Film discussed
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat
- Protest location
- Agra
- Protest leader
- Kunwar Ajay Tomar, state president of the Yogi Youth Brigade
- Announced reward
- ₹1.51 lakh for cutting Bhasker’s tongue
- Original remarks
- Bhasker spoke at a Woman, Life, Freedom event at Delhi’s India International Centre on August 31
- Later clarification
- Bhasker said she had not called Rani Padmavati or the other women cowards