Deepika Padukone Takes A Fresh Dig At Swara Bhasker For Her ‘Vagina’ Comment

A lot has already been said and written about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus ‘Padmaavat’. And no, I’m not talking about the celebrated performances of Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapor that echoed in unison when the film hit the theatres.

Instead, I’m talking about the feuds/clashes/controversies that period saga dealt with, both pre and post-release. Like the flames ignited by fringe groups (read Karni Sena) didn’t do enough, feminists including Swara Bhasker–with her open-letter slamming SLB for ‘glorifying’ jauhar–riled up a debate that simply refuses to die.

A debate ‘vagina’ that made Swara touch base and lock horns with fellow fraternity members like Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, Vivek Agnihotri, and the co-writers of Bhansali’s ‘Ram Leela’.

Yes, her critique resonated with a bunch of viewers who were disappointed that Bhansali did not add any social commentary on the evil practice, but mostly there were people who slammed Swara for her apparent lop-sided opinion on the movie. In fact, the team including Shahid, Deepika and even Bhansali have come out defending their film, albeit maintaining that she is entitled to her opinion. But we have told you that already.

Why am I repeating it again then? Well, because seemingly, Deepika has had enough. In a fresh comeback, the actress told India Today that Swara probably missed the disclaimers! 

“Sometimes people miss the fact that this film was set in an era, in the 12th or 13th century where rituals like these were practised.”

“You know she probably just missed the disclaimer in the beginning of the film.”

When prodded further on how she responds to the collective outrage by feminists who called the film regressive, Deepika sounded firm.

“It is important to view a film in totality and to see in which period it was set in. I think for me this film is not just about the act that they all committed, but it stood for so much more. For me, it’s a celebration of women and their strength, power and dignity.”

Well, that was as clear and crystal as it gets. Wonder if Swara has a rebuke to Deepika’s comments.

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