Swara Bhasker Faces Backlash Over Padmaavat Remark, Clarifies Her Comments

Actor Swara Bhasker has faced strong criticism on social media over her comments about the jauhar sequence in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2018 film Padmaavat. Bhasker has clarified that she never called Rani Padmaavati or the women who performed jauhar “cowards”, saying her remarks were mistranslated and subsequently misunderstood.

Speaking about the film’s climax, Bhasker said she was disturbed by the way jauhar was portrayed and questioned the message it could convey to survivors of sexual violence. She recalled thinking, “God forbid, if I were a rape survivor, I would feel like a coward for not having taken my own life.”

Bhasker argued that the concern was not about judging women who faced extreme circumstances in the past, but about how such scenes are presented to contemporary audiences. She questioned whether cinema should suggest that a woman’s purity or honour is more valuable than her life.

The actor also raised questions about a particular shot involving a pregnant woman during the film’s climactic sequence. She said the scene made her wonder whether audiences could interpret it as suggesting that a potential girl child should not be born because she might one day face sexual violence.

Her comments triggered a fresh debate online, with critics accusing her of disrespecting the historical practice of jauhar and the women associated with it. The controversy comes years after Padmaavat itself became a major flashpoint over its depiction of Rajput history.

In her clarification, Bhasker stressed that her criticism was directed at the film’s narrative treatment of jauhar rather than at Rani Padmaavati or the women who chose self-immolation in the story. She urged critics to understand the context of her statement before attacking her.

Padmaavat, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, had faced protests and controversy before its release. Its depiction of Rani Padmaavati and Alauddin Khilji became a particularly contentious issue. Bhasker’s latest remarks have revived discussion about the responsibilities of filmmakers when portraying historical practices and whether such depictions can influence contemporary attitudes towards sexual violence and women’s rights.