The recently released Bollywood film ‘Jaat’, featuring Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda, has landed in controversy following its April 10 premiere. A specific scene featuring Randeep Hooda inside a church has sparked outrage from members of the Christian community, who claim it is offensive and have demanded an immediate ban on the film.
Outrage Over Church Depiction
The controversial scene shows Randeep Hooda’s character standing inside a church beneath a crucifix positioned above the sacred pulpit. Another sequence includes congregants engaged in prayer within the church. The trailer, which includes references to violence in the church setting, has drawn severe criticism from Christian leaders and community members, who allege that the scene disrespects religious sentiments and portrays the sanctity of the church in a negative light.
Protesters have been seen chanting slogans like “Randeep Hooda Murdabad”, expressing anger over what they consider the desecration of a sacred place. A video of the protest shows demonstrators gathered with placards, voicing their discontent.
Though plans were initially made to stage demonstrations outside cinemas screening Jaat, police intervention prevented public protests. In response, community representatives submitted a memorandum to the Joint Commissioner of Police, demanding that the film be pulled from theatres and legal action be initiated against the film’s makers and cast. The community has issued a 48-hour ultimatum, warning that protests will escalate if authorities fail to take appropriate steps. They argue that the film not only hurts religious sentiments but also promotes insensitive portrayals of sacred Christian practices.
