Grateful to judiciary for allowing release of 'Maharaj': YRF after Gujarat HC lifts stay order
Mumbai (PTI): Yash Raj Films (YRF), the banner behind "Maharaj" that marks the debut of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's son Junaid, has expressed gratitude to the judiciary after the Gujarat High Court lifted an interim stay on the film's release.
The period drama, set in pre-independent India, is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862.
The Gujarat High Court on Friday observed that "Maharaj" did not target the Vaishnav Pushtimarg sect as alleged by its members, who had filed a petition against the release of the film, claiming that it hurts religious sentiments.
The film has nothing objectionable or derogatory, the court said after watching it, and allowed its release on streaming platform Netflix.
In a statement posted on its official social media handles, YRF said the movie is a tribute to Karsandas Mulji, one of the greatest social reformers of India.
"We are grateful to our judiciary for allowing the release of Maharaj, a film that celebrates one of the most important social reformers of our country, Karsandas Mulji," the production banner said.
"Karsandas, a hero and a devout Vaishnav, stood for righteousness, protected women and safeguarded his community and faith. Maharaj is a tribute to his indomitable fighting spirit and his courage to be on the right side of history,” it added.
The studio, known for producing renowned films such as "Veer Zaara", "Fighter", "Pathaan", "Ek Tha Tiger", "Chak De! India", "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Silsila", and "Kabhi Kabhie", said it has never made a movie that would "tarnish" the country's reputation.
"Yash Raj Films has a 50-year-old legacy of championing India, its stories, its people, culture and heritage. We have never produced a film that has tarnished the reputation of our country or our countrymen. Hope you watch 'Maharaj' and join us in saluting Karsandas," the production banner said.
"Maharaj" is produced by Aditya Chopra under YRF Entertainment and is directed by Siddharth P Malhotra of "Hichki" fame.
Malhotra also shared an emotional note on social media, saying the film has a story that needs to be told against all odds.
"A film release is almost like the arrival of a child for a filmmaker. The labour of love would like to be celebrated and announced with elan. But when you choose to tell a story that must be told against all odds then the battle will be uphill but hopefully worth the pain and obstacles as we as a team are super proud of the film 'Maharaj' that we have made,” he wrote.
"Maharaj" also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, and Sharvari Wagh in a special appearance.
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Rahul Gandhi meets Pahalgam terror attack victim Lt Vinay Narwal's kin in Karnal
Chandigarh, May 6 (PTI): Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met the family members of Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Accompanied by senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad, who is the party's Haryana affairs in-charge, the LoP reached Karnal in Haryana in the afternoon.
Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, Congress' Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda and party leader Divyanshu Budhiraja were also present when Gandhi arrived.
After paying his tributes to the Naval officer upon reaching his residence, Gandhi spent more than one-and-a-half hours with Narwal's family.
Gandhi did not talk to the reporters who were waiting outside Lt Narwal's house. However, he later said on X, "I met the bereaved family of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal ji, who was martyred in the Pahalgam attack, shared their grief and consoled them. Their courage and bravery even in the face of immense grief is a message for the country - we have to remain united.
"The entire country stands with the families of the martyrs. The government has the full support of the opposition -- the culprits should be punished in such a way that no one dares to raise an eye toward India. Today, along with the victim families, the entire country is waiting for justice."
Speaking to reporters later, Hooda said Gandhi consoled the family. "Rahul Gandhi paid homage to martyr Narwal, talked separately to his family members and offered his condolences."
Haryana Congress chief Bhan told PTI that Gandhi consoled the family and shared their grief.
"He met with the family members, including his parents," said Bhan.
After meeting the family, Gandhi left for Delhi, he said.
Married three weeks ago, 26-year-old Lt Narwal, accompanied by his wife Himanshi, was on a honeymoon trip to Pahalgam when terrorists shot him at point blank on April 22.
A week ago, Gandhi had also visited the family members of Shubham Dwivedi, who was among the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
Stressing that strict and concrete action should be taken against the terrorists, Gandhi had then said the united opposition had given full support to the government.
Besides those killed, several people were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
पहलगाम हमले में शहीद हुए लेफ्टिनेंट विनय नरवाल जी के शोकाकुल परिवार से मिलकर उनका दुख बांटा, उन्हें सांत्वना दी। अपार दुख में भी उनका हौसला और साहस देश के लिए एक संदेश है - हमें एकजुट रहना है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 6, 2025
पूरा देश शहीदों के परिवारों के साथ खड़ा है। सरकार को विपक्ष का पूरा समर्थन है -…
