NEW DELHI, March 4: India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted state bans on the screening of a blockbuster film about the love between a Muslim emperor and his Hindu wife.
Several states last month prohibited cinema’s showing “Jodhaa Akbar” after it sparked protests by Hindu Rajputs against a “wrong interpretation” of history.
But the court lifted the bans until March 14, when a hearing will receive a petition from the Bollywood film’s producers, who say the protests have cost them heavy losses.
Cinemas in western Rajasthan state were the first to refuse to screen the film after threats from the Rajput community — a traditional warrior caste — which says it is grossly inaccurate.
The film — one of the most expensive Bollywood productions with an estimated budget of 400 million rupees (10 million dollars) — depicts a romance between the 16th century Mughal ruler Akbar and Rajput princess Jodha Bai.—AFP
