I fail to understand what the Padmaavat protesters are objecting to, asks Javed Akhtar

Like many, Javed Akhtar is confused after watching Padmaavat — and not because he didn't get what was happening in the movie.

The writer-lyricist saw Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial period drama with his wife, Shabana Azmi and left the cinema impressed more than anything.

According to Indian Express, he questioned why protesters were objecting to the movie as it pays “homage to the valour and integrity of the Rajput community.”

“I saw the film and I feel it is among the most accomplished achievements I’ve seen in Indian cinema in recent times. I fail to understand what the protesters are protesting against,” asked Akhtar.

“The film is a passionate, unadulterated homage to the valour and integrity of the Rajput community. Not a word, not a frame in the film is an insult to the community. In fact, it is insulting to the film to suggest that it in any way insults the very community it honours."

He added: “It is a film that should be sent as India’s entry to the Oscars. My heart was filled with pride while watching Padmaavat. It is a film for every Indian. I was completely drawn in by the storytelling. It is spectacular and spell-binding.”

Expanding on the dearth of support from within the industry, Shabana shared, "The film industry is being accused for its lack of support for the director and his team, which is not fair. We were prevented from doing so as the producers thought it was more prudent not to be confrontational! I believe that if FIRs had been lodged in the first place when SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) was assaulted in Rajasthan, things would not have reached this state."