Actor Janhvi Kapoor became the target of farmers' anger while shooting for a movie in Punjab this week. A group of protesters barged into the location and disrupted the shoot on Monday, demanding that the actor make a public statement in support of farmers. They left the movie sets only after assurances from the crew.
Later, Ms Kapoor issued a statement on Instagram supporting farmers.
"Farmers are at the heart of our country. I recognise and value the role that they play in feeding our nation. I hope a resolution is reached soon that benefits the farmers," she wrote.
"They had told the crew and the director that Bollywood actors have neither said anything in support of farmers' protest nor made any comment. When the film director assured them that Janhvi Kapoor would make a comment on the protest, they went back. The shoot is going on," a local police officer, Balwinder Singh, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Visuals showed protesters raising slogans at the shoot in the presence of the police.
The 23-year-old actor is shooting for filmmaker Aanand L Rai's "Good Luck Jerry". It is being directed by Sidharth Sengupta, known for films like "Raanjhanaa" and the "Tanu Weds Manu" series.
"Good Luck Jerry" also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Meeta Vashishth, Neeraj Sood and Sushant Singh.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting against three central laws for weeks on highways outside Delhi. Several noted Punjabi actors and singers have openly supported the farmers. Singer-songwriter Babbu Maan, a star in Punjab, burnt copies of the laws this morning at one of the protest sites, Singhu border, to show solidarity with the protesting farmers.
Farmers fear that these laws will result in the phasing out of traditional crop markets, leaving them at the mercy of big corporate houses. They also claim that through these laws, the government intends to scrap the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system - a charge denied by the centre.
After several rounds of talks failed to break the deadlock, the Supreme Court on Tuesday put the laws on hold and formed a committee to facilitate a resolution. The farmers, however, have decided to continue with their protests, sticking to their demand for repealing the laws.
Last month, a group of BJP leaders in Punjab's Phagwara had to slip out from the backdoor under police protection after farmers protesting the laws picketed a hotel where they were attending an event.
With inputs from agencies
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