It seems like old movie posters never truly fade away, especially if they stir up controversy. Actor Rajkummar Rao is learning this the hard way. He’s currently caught in a legal battle concerning a poster from his 2017 film, ‘Behen Hogi Teri’. This particular case, surprisingly, is eight years old. A hearing in the Jalandhar court took place this past Wednesday, where the actor’s lawyer shared new details about the ongoing situation.
The Controversy Unfolds
The actor, known for his diverse roles, had to surrender in a Jalandhar court on Monday, July 28. He was granted bail with some conditions. While Rajkummar wasn’t present for Wednesday’s hearing on July 30, his legal team certainly was, ready to share the latest.
The whole issue goes back to 2017. During the promotion of ‘Behen Hogi Teri’, a film poster caused quite a stir. News agency ANI reported that this specific poster, which featured Lord Shiva, sparked anger among a section of the public.
Following the outcry, a case was filed. Rajkummar Rao, actress Shruti Haasan, and the film’s producer and director were all named. They faced serious charges. These included Section 295A, which deals with actions intended to outrage religious feelings. There was also Section 120B for criminal conspiracy and Section 67 of the IT Act. Due to these charges, non-bailable warrants were issued for the actor. Rajkummar then surrendered on July 28. The court granted him conditional bail after he appeared.
In the Courtroom
During the recent court session, Rajkummar’s lawyer, Darshan Singh Dayal, explained the situation. He said that the formal charges were presented in court while the actor was not there. Rajkummar, who lives in Mumbai, wasn’t informed about the summons. This was because his listed address was in Delhi. Meanwhile, actress Shruti Haasan has been found innocent by the court. She is now free from the case. The film’s director, Ajay K Pannalal, was in court today. He filed a petition before the court.
The petition stated that Rajkummar Rao was simply playing a character in the movie. His character was shown playing the role of Lord Shiva within a “Jagran Mandali.” That’s a group that performs religious songs. The defense argued that this was purely an artistic presentation. Lawyer Darshan Singh Dayal clearly stated that there was no intention to offend the religious feelings of any community. Rajkummar Rao also argued that ‘Behen Hogi Teri’ received a certificate from the Central Film Certification Board. This means the movie’s content was considered legally acceptable. He further added that his freedom of expression is protected under Article 19(1)(A) of the constitution.