Swara Bhasker On "Padmaavat" Letter: 'Didn't Expect So Much Chaos For Using The V-Word'

New Delhi: Actress Swara Bhasker has spent this week waging war against trolls on Twitter, ever since her open letter to "Padmaavat" director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was published on The Wire. Her op-ed is critical of the film's glorification of jauhar and sati and details how Swara felt 'reduced to a vagina' after watching it. Twitter has similarly reduced Swara's open letter to the word 'vagina,' which the actress has addressed in tweets and now in a quote to news agency ANI, saying she didn't "expect so much chaos just because of a word that starts with 'V'". Swara Bhasker's letter, which went viral, underlined the right of women to live despite the horrors of sexual violence and deaths of their men. The controversial "Padmaavat" is based on the legend of Padmini, the Rajput queen supposed to have committed jauhar when Sultan Alauddin Khilji invaded her kingdom.

Speaking to ANI, Swara said, "Everybody has right to express opinion. I kept my views in a very polite manner and had no wrong intentions. I put forward a few legitimate questions. I didn't expect so much chaos just because I used a word which starts with 'V'".
 

Everybody has right to express opinion. I kept my views in a very polite manner & had no wrong intentions. I put forward a few legitimate questions. I didn't expect so much chaos just because I used a word which starts with 'V': Swara Bhaskar on her open letter on #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/huwC1yD8hR

— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2018

On Twitter, Swara continues to fight a spirited battle against those heaping abuse on her - and there are many. Told by director-producer Vivek Agnihotri that she should meet survivors of rape in Bastar to "understand what the Real Vagina feels like," Swara responded scornfully, asking if Mr Agnihotri suggested she be raped herself.
 

I'm sorry did u just suggest that i go get myself raped?????????? Like seriously? You typed out this tweet Vivek... ?????
I'd say pretty low and sick even by your own abysmal standards of conduct & civility. https://t.co/d1LCCE9B5I

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 30, 2018

 

We have interviewed many 'ex-naxal' women in Bastar. Each has gut-wrenching stories to tell, full of abuse, rape and misogyny If they marry, they aren't allowed to have children. I think fake feminist @ReallySwara must make a trip to understand how the Real Vagina feels like.

— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 30, 2018

On Monday, a day after her open letter went viral, Swara Bhasker noted in her responses to actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and journalist Sonal Kalra that many of those reacting to what she wrote couldn't get beyond the use of the word 'vagina.'
 

Funny that people cannot get over the fact that a woman said Vagina! Funny that in a 2440 word article making fairly comprehensible arguments they only remember the word Vagina!!! So... Vagina vagina vagina vagina vagina vagina...............vagina vagina VAGINA!!!!! https://t.co/pVh7rskZHL

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 28, 2018

 

Totally your choice Sonal.. saying or not saying the word vagina has nothing to do with being a feminist.. but in a 2440 word article about a film- that ur only recall is the use of the word vagina.. may have something to do with.. i wonder what? :) :) :) https://t.co/vukMMxds40

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 28, 2018

While "Padmaavat" director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not responded to the open letter, actor Shahid Kapoor told news agency IANS, "I haven't read it yet. We have been busy with other things, but I think this isn't the right time. It has been a tough battle for us to be able to bring forth the film to the audience. It feels great to receive support from the entire industry but it feels odd that someone said something on a personal level. That's OK though as everyone has the right to say what they want but I haven't read it yet." Shahid plays Padmavati's husband Ratan Singh in the film. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh play the queen and Khilji.

Swara Bhasker's letter articulates in detail the criticism several reviews of "Padmaavat" have made. The box office, however, doesn't seem to agree. The film is well past Rs 100 crore and counting, and is also drumming up impressive ticket sales abroad.

Swara Bhasker was last seen in 2017's Anaarkali of Aarah, and is currently busy with her upcoming project Veere Di Wedding headlined by Kareena Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Veere Di Wedding will hit the screens on June 1.