Archive · 2 Sep 2026
BJP, Karni Sena Criticize Swara Bhasker’s Padmaavat Comments
Swara Bhasker criticized a tradition called jauhar shown in the movie Padmaavat.
In the movie, women set themselves on fire to avoid being captured by invading soldiers.
Bhasker said people should not be told that dying is the only way to protect their honour.
She also said this message could hurt survivors of sexual violence.
After people criticized her, she said she had not called Rani Padmavati a coward.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said her comments insulted women.
A BJP leader in Bihar also filed a police complaint against her.
The Karni Sena criticized her too and said she was targeting Hindu traditions.
Swara Bhasker criticized the jauhar tradition depicted in the 2018 film Padmaavat.
Bhasker questioned whether women should be told to die to preserve their honour, especially amid a rape epidemic.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused her of insulting women and speaking in a voice supplied by others.
Bihar BJP leader Krishna Kumar Singh filed a police complaint alleging derogatory remarks about Hindu society and Rajput women.
Karni Sena leader Kirthi Rathore condemned Bhasker and accused her of selectively criticizing Hindu traditions.
- Who
- Actor Swara Bhasker, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Karni Sena are involved in the dispute.
- What
- BJP and Karni Sena representatives criticized Bhasker’s comments about jauhar in Padmaavat; a Bihar BJP leader filed a police complaint.
- When
- The criticism followed Bhasker’s recent remarks; Padmaavat was released in 2018.
- Where
- The BJP criticism was made at a press conference, while the complaint was filed in Bihar.
- Why
- Bhasker questioned the message that women should die to preserve their honour, while her critics said she insulted Hindu and Rajput women.
Swara Bhasker’s Position
BJP and Karni Sena’s Position
Meaning of jauhar
Swara Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker questioned the idea that women should kill themselves to preserve their honour and asked whether this message is appropriate in a society facing a rape epidemic.
BJP and Karni Sena’s Position
Critics said her remarks insulted the sacrifice and bravery of Hindu and Rajput women warriors.
Treatment of women
Swara Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker argued that telling survivors they did not deserve to live would be harmful and questioned the glorification of self-immolation.
BJP and Karni Sena’s Position
Gaurav Bhatia said every woman should respect other women and objected to comments he viewed as insulting women.
Focus of criticism
Swara Bhasker’s Position
Bhasker’s remarks focused on the regressive implications of the tradition shown in the film.
BJP and Karni Sena’s Position
Kirthi Rathore accused her of singling out Hindu traditions while not speaking about regressive traditions in Islam.
- Film
- Padmaavat, released in 2018
- Contested tradition
- Jauhar, depicted as women self-immolating to avoid capture and abuse
- Bhasker’s clarification
- She said she had not used the word “coward” for Rani Padmavati.
- BJP spokesperson
- Gaurav Bhatia
- Police complaint
- Krishna Kumar Singh, a Bihar BJP leader, accused Bhasker of derogatory remarks against Hindu society and Rajput women.
- Other critic
- Kirthi Rathore, women’s wing chief of the Karni Sena
- Literary source
- Padmaavat is based on Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s 1540 Sufi epic poem.