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BJP Slams Swara Bhasker Over Padmaavat Jauhar Remark, Actress Clarifies 'My Words Were Translated Falsely'

The BJP on Wednesday criticised actor Swara Bhasker over her remarks on the depiction of Jauhar in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis 2018 film Padmaavat, saying that a woman should respect other women. The BJPs reaction came after Bhasker questioned the message conveyed by the films climactic depiction of Jauhar, particularly from the perspective of a survivor of sexual assault. I was watching it, and I thought that if, God forbid, I was a rape survivor, what is this film telling me? I would feel like a coward that I didnt commit suicide to save my honour. Are we saying that rape is the end of a womans life? This scene was so problematic, she said at a recent event. Swara Bhaskar speaks about her letter to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the scene of Jauhar in the movie Padmavat pic.twitter.com/6X4Z0SvFtC Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) August 31, 2026 Her remarks triggered criticism on social media. Asked about Bhaskers comments, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, You have taken the name of such an individual whose swar (tone) has gone bad. It is said that her swar (tone) also matches what is instructed to her. I understand that such kind of comments should not be made. A woman must respect other women. Swara Bhasker Clarifies Padmaavat Remarks Bhasker later clarified that her comments had been completely mistranslated and said she never described Rani Padmavati or the other women who committed Jauhar as cowards. The actor faced a wave of criticism on social media following comments she made at an event last week, where she discussed her objections to the depiction of Jauhar in Padmaavat. Jauhar refers to a historical practice associated with some Rajput communities in which women are believed to have collectively immolated themselves to avoid capture, enslavement or sexual violence when defeat in battle appeared imminent. In a video posted on X on Tuesday night, Bhasker explained the context of her remarks. This morning, a clip of mine has been going viral on social media. It was from an event yesterday, where I was asked why I had sent an open letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali after watching Padmaavat. While explaining what my issue was, I said something that is now being completely mistranslated and spread falsely, claiming that I had said that Rani Padmaavati and the other women who committed Jauhar were cowards, she said. She further explained that her comment was about how the films climax could make a rape survivor feel about surviving sexual violence.She said that the clip going viral on social media has been translated falsely. - ! @ndtvindia - pic.twitter.com/TR8sy5gRCr Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 1, 2026 The actor said her concern was about the message she felt the scene could convey to survivors, rather than a criticism of the women who chose Jauhar. What Happens in the Padmaavat Climax? The climactic sequence in Padmaavat depicts Rani Padmavati leading the women of Chittor in a mass act of self-immolation to avoid capture and sexual violence by Alauddin Khiljis invading army. Bhansalis film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, was released in 2018 after facing controversy and protests over its portrayal of historical characters and events. ALSO READ: Bhumi Pednekar Calls Delhi Bus Gang Rape Case a Shame, Says How Can We See This Happen Again and Again?