Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad issues legal notice to Swara Bhasker

Case pertaining to Swara Bhasker labelling ‘jauhar’ as cowardice

Mumbai – The Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad has served a legal notice on actress Swara Bhasker Ahmad for describing ‘jauhar’, performed by Maharani Padmavati and other Hindu Rajput women to protect their chastity, as ‘cowardice’. Through the notice, damages of ₹25 lakh have been sought, along with a written undertaking guaranteeing that she will not make derogatory statements regarding Hindu places of reverence in the future. Advocate Anesh Parelkar of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad served this notice at the behest of devout Hindu Shri. Ramesh Kadgale. 

⚖️ Hindu Vidhijna Parishad serves a legal notice to actress Swara Bhasker Ahmad!

The notice objects to her remarks allegedly describing the historical practice of ‘Jauhar’, undertaken by Hindu women in the face of imminent defeat to protect their honour, as an act of cowardice.… pic.twitter.com/Mhegk15SM1

— Sunil Ghanwat 🛕🛕 (@SG_HJS) September 9, 2026

During an event held at the ‘India International Centre’ on 31 August, actress Swara Bhasker Ahmad allegedly made objectionable remarks whilst describing the ‘jauhar’ scene from the Hindi film ‘Padmaavat’.

What the legal notice states

• The right to freedom of speech and expression conferred by the Constitution is not absolute, but subject to reasonable restrictions. Swara Bhasker Ahmad’s remarks have insulted the valour, sacrifice, and self-respect of Maharani Padmavati and the heroic women who committed ‘jauhar’. 
• This statement has hurt my religious and cultural sentiments, as well as those of the Hindu and Rajput communities worldwide. Therefore, action must be initiated against her for hurting religious sentiments. Swara Bhasker Ahmad must immediately withdraw her objectionable remarks and tender a public apology to the Hindu community, particularly Rajput women.

Apologise within 7 days or face court action – Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad

Swara Bhasker Ahmad must immediately remove all related material available across her social media accounts in the form of videos, messages, reels, clips, and the like. Furthermore, she must furnish a written undertaking assuring that she will not make any derogatory statements regarding Hindu Dharma, traditions, and historical icons in the future.

If all demands are not met within 7 days of receiving this notice, the process of registering a criminal case and initiating civil legal proceedings against Swara Bhasker Ahmad will commence.

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Complaint filed against Swara Bhasker over jauhar remarks

September 7, 2026

Advocate Amita Sachdeva files complaint following Swara Bhasker’s comments on Padmavat’s jauhar scene

New Delhi – Following controversial comments made by actress Swara Fahad Ahmad (formerly Swara Bhasker) regarding the depiction of jauhar in the film Padmavat, Supreme Court Advocate Amita Sachdeva has formally lodged a criminal complaint before the Delhi Cyber Police seeking appropriate legal action against the actress. Advocate Sachdeva stated that legal proceedings became inevitable after the actress refused to tender an apology and instead remained adamant while offering excuses.

When Apology Was Refused, Legal Action Became Inevitable.

After giving Ms. Swara Bhaskar an opportunity to apologise for her remarks concerning Rani Padmavati and the women of Chittor, she has chosen to remain adamant and offer excuses instead.

Therefore, I have today filed a… https://t.co/o0kAUKX4dQ pic.twitter.com/U2WHL9Eu9P

— Amita Sachdeva, Advocate (@SachdevaAmita) September 3, 2026

During an event held on 31 August at the India International Centre, actress Swara Bhasker stated: “While watching the film Padmavat in 2018, I saw all the women committing jauhar. It made me think: by God’s grace, if a rape survivor were watching this film, what lesson does it offer her? She would feel like a ‘coward’. She would feel as though she did not sacrifice her life to protect her honour. In our society, where rape is already pervasive, is this what you wish to convey to survivors, that you have no right to live?”

When apology was refused, legal action became inevitable

Addressing the matter on X, Advocate Amita Sachdeva clarified that the issue does not pertain to the actress’s right to critique a film or voice her opinions on rape survivors; rather, it concerns the manner in which the historic sacrifice of Rani Padmini and the women of Chittorgarh was invoked and demeaned.

Advocate Sachdeva noted that the actress knew precisely what Padmavat represented – the valour and ultimate sacrifice of Chittorgarh’s women, who chose jauhar over captivity and dishonour. Describing the remarks as a deliberate choice of words rather than a misunderstanding, Advocate Sachdeva added that once the opportunity to apologise was met with excuses about mistranslation rather than remorse, there was no point continuing an online debate. The matter has now been placed before the law, with Advocate Sachdeva stating she will pursue the complaint to its logical conclusion with the grace and blessings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna. 

Jauhar was the reality of that era and history – Padmavat co-writer Prakash Kapadia

In an interview with a newspaper, Prakash Kapadia, co-writer of Padmavat, defended the film’s narrative: “We made the film strictly based on our research and historical records. Every individual views cinema through a different lens. What we portrayed, including the jauhar sequence, was the stark reality of that era. It cannot be rewritten now; the situation then was strictly ‘do or die’. It largely depends on a viewer’s frame of mind, if one approaches even a fine film with negativity, it will appear meaningless. Whether someone watches as a genuine spectator or with an intent to hunt for controversy is what truly matters. With Padmavat, protests erupted on the streets even before anyone had seen the film. If the debate persists years later, there is little else to say, people will say whatever they wish.”