Mumbai: The film based on the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu who is accused of raping a minor and convicted of a similar crime dropped its trailer on Monday. His charitable trust has sent a legal notice to the makers of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer.
The film is called Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.
The trust asked the court to issue "prohibitory orders against the promotion and release of the film" and called it "highly objectionable" and "defamatory" towards their client. They also claimed that the film has the potential to tarnish the godman's reputation and hurt the sentiments of his devotees.
Actor Manoj Baypayee plays lawyer PC Solanki in the film. He said that the film is "socially relevant" and it can be a learning experience for many parents. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said he does not consider it to be controversial.
When asked about the courage it took to work in the film, he said that it is not a matter of courage or controversy. "It is a story that needs to be told. I knew there is a cause. It is a security issue." He added that the team drew strength from the girl who fought for justice. "This girl went through hell and yet stood strong. She showed courage and fought for herself, even when there were so many big lawyers lined up against her. Be it Solanki, or even all of us, we took strength from this woman, she is the real hero."
When asked about the religious beliefs of the godman's followers being hurt, Bajpayee said that he does not understand why people are trying to colour this story in religion. He asserted that the story is about "an act that completely crushed parents' hope, the girl's hope of her own future."
"Anyone with a young child will not think about religion and faith, but what this perpetrator did to them. I think such predators are everywhere and in most cases, they are known to the family, you trust them. Thus this film could be a wake-up call to people to not trust anyone when it comes to their child," he added.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai will be released on ZEE5 on May 23.