‘Maharaj’ Gujarat High Court considers review of Aamir Khan’s Son Junaid’s debut film amid controversy

‘Maharaj’ Gujarat High Court considers review of Aamir Khan’s Son Junaid’s debut film amid controversy

The Gujarat High Court is currently deliberating on whether ‘Maharaj’, the debut film of Junaid Khan, son of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, should be viewed to decide its release on Netflix. The release of the film was met with objections from the Pushtimarg sect, who claim that the film offends their religious sentiments.

The court of Justice Sangeeta Vishen extended the interim stay on the film’s release by another day and scheduled further hearings for Thursday. This decision follows Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) proposal to provide the court with a secure link to watch the film so that the judges can assess the petitioners’ claims.

‘Maharaj’ revolves around a controversial 1862 libel case involving Vaishnavite religious leader Karsandas Mulji. Mulji, a social reformer, accused a religious figure of misconduct in a weekly article in Gujarati. The petitioners claim that the comments made by the British judges during the case were ‘blasphemous’ against Lord Krishna and could affect their religious sentiments.

The court’s decision to view the film remains pending, with both parties – the petitioners and YRF – agreeing that viewing the film will not prevent further legal arguments on the validity of the petition. “We will provide the link if the court deems it necessary after hearing arguments from both sides,” said Shalin Mehta, a lawyer for YRF. Lawyer Mihir Joshi, who represents the petitioners, did not object to the court watching the film and stressed the need for a speedy resolution. “If the film does not disrespect our religion, they should allow its release. We don’t want to delay this any further,” he said.

Petitioners claim that the release of the film could seriously harm their religious beliefs, disrupt public order and incite violence against their community. They claim that the film may violate the code of ethics of the Information Technology Rules and the OTT platform’s self-regulation code by promoting hatred and violence against the Pushtimarg sect.

Earlier, the petitioners approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to block the release of the film but received no response.

Set in pre-independence India, ‘Maharaj’ tells the story of Karsandas Mulji, played by Junaid Khan, who marks his debut. The film highlights Mulji’s fight for justice amid the social and political unrest in India following the Sepoy Mutiny. Inspired by his mentor, Dadabhai Naoroji, Mulji takes on a powerful figure in the infamous Maharaj Libel Case.

‘Maharaj’ aims to bring Mulji’s courageous stand to a modern audience, but its portrayal of a Hindu religious leader has sparked controversy and led to intense criticism and legal challenges.