Political analyst and Bigg Boss 13 fame Tehseen Poonawalla strongly condemned attempts to blame actor Vicky Kaushal for the riots in Nagpur and other parts of Maharashtra following the release of his film Chhaava. Poonawalla also took a sharp dig at actress Swara Bhasker, calling her a “third-rate actress,” and held her responsible for fueling the controversy alongside Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi.
Massive violence erupted in Nagpur over the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, just days after Chhaava—a film that depicted the brutal torture of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at the hands of Aurangzeb—hit the screens. Some sections of the internet slammed Vicky Kaushal for allegedly spreading hate through his movie, branding it as “propaganda.”
Tehseen Poonawalla Defends Vicky Kaushal
Responding to the backlash, Poonawalla took to X on Wednesday, stating, “It is utterly deplorable to pin the blame for the Nagpur riots on Vicky Kaushal’s stellar portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj or the blockbuster film Chhaava. Art—be it a movie, a book, or any creative expression—does not wield the power to ignite violence; it is merely a mirror to society, not a matchstick.”
He further criticized those responsible for the riots, saying, “The real culprits trace back to a third-rate actress and Abu Azmi, who shamelessly glorified Aurangzeb. Meanwhile, right-wing groups and even Maharashtra Minister Narayan Rane & Telangana MLA T Raja fanned the flames of hate to a vicious crescendo.”
Poonawalla pointed out the hypocrisy of political leaders, stating, “Neither Azmi’s children, nor Rane’s kin, nor Raja’s family took to the streets—why? Because the privileged stoke chaos from ivory towers, leaving the poor to bleed and the middle class to bear the scars.”
Swara Bhasker Faces Backlash
Swara Bhasker, who had compared the reaction to Chhaava to the Maha Kumbh stampede incident, faced severe criticism for her remarks.
Poonawalla concluded his statement with a call for unity, saying, “Let’s end this spiral of hate—unite in the resounding cries of Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani, Jai Hind, Jai Bharat—and in this sacred month of Ramzan, embrace each other as one family. May India rise and prosper, undivided!”
