Rabari replaced with Rajadi, Jadeja with Saneda in Bhansali’s Ram Leela

Ahmedabad, 12 November 2013

Film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has replaced ‘Jadeja’ with ‘Saneda’ and ‘Rabari’ with ‘Rajadi’ in his upcoming film Ram Leela after protests by Rabari and Jadeja communities. Bhansali has sent a letter to president of Gujarat Garasia Association in this regard. Bhansali took this decision after widespread protests across Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat by Kshatriya and Rabari communities. The protests began after release of film’s trailers on TV. At least four multiplexes were vandalized during the protests in Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Gandhidham. Gondal Yuvraj Himanshusinh Jadeja and Rajkot Yuvraj Mandhatasinh Jadeja played the role of mediator in this controversy and convinced Bhansali to issue apology and make changes in the lines where caste names were mentioned. Bhansali’s film trailers were challenged in the Gujarat High Court too. Bhansali gave assurance before the court that he would make necessary changes.