Aamir Khan‘s son Junaid Khan’s debut film has landed in grave trouble even before its release. A section of social media users sparked controversy on Thursday as hashtags like ‘Boycott Netflix’ and ‘Ban Maharaj Film’ trended, calling for a ban on the upcoming period drama Maharaj, which premieres on Netflix on Friday.
The film marks the debut of Aamir’s son Junaid Khan, causing the hashtag “AamirKhan” to also trend. Critics claim the movie hurts religious sentiments.
According to the makers, Maharaj is set in pre-independent India and is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, ignited by allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure.
Maharaj Receives Heavy Backlash Ahead Of It’s Netflix Debut
VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi was among many X users who called for a ban on Maharaj. “Won’t tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma (Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan sehen nahin karenge). Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix,” Prachi wrote on the microblogging site.
Some X users questioned the double standards in movies about Hinduism and Islam. One user stated, “Since the film is Maharaj… it’s about your gods and goddesses and religion; you call for a boycott. When it’s about the other community, there is an attempt to sell as much hate as possible through films.”
The boycott calls for Maharaj appear to echo what happened with Aamir’s film Laal Singh Chaddha. Many posts calling for a boycott of the 2022 movie recalled an earlier controversy in 2015 when Aamir had expressed concern about growing intolerance in India.
More About Maharaj
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra under YRF Entertainment, the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat.
The movie Maharaj also stars Shalini Pandey with Sharvari in a special appearance. It is part of the multi-year creative partnership between Netflix and Yash Raj Films’ digital arm YRF Entertainment.
According to a press release issued by Netflix last month, Maharaj follows Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer who advocated for women’s rights and social reform. The film delves into the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, a significant legal battle ignited by allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure.
Unusually, the film is releasing on the streamer without any prior promotions. No teaser or trailers have been put out by the makers for the film, except for a poster featuring Jaideep and Junaid.
They are shown side by side, with Ahlawat’s character sporting a ’tilak’ on his forehead while Junaid’s character, reportedly a journalist, is dressed in a waistcoat.
