New Delhi: The trailer of filmmaker Ayan Mukerji’s much-awaited adventure trilogy ‘Brahmastra’ Part 1 was released a while back and the buzz was clear. High on VFX and special effects are the reel chemistry of the lead pair Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt as Shiva and Isha. The trailer has been the talk of the town ever since it came out and has left its fans talking about it.
Meanwhile, at the same time, the trailer also faced criticism due to one of Ranbir Kapoor’s entry scene, in which the actor is seen ringing a huge temple bell while wearing his shoes. The hashtag ‘Boycott Brahmastra’ started trending on Twitter and the scene received a lot of response from a section of netizens.
Now, director Ayan Mukerji has finally broken his silence on the controversy and issued a statement in his defence. He mentions that contrary to what it was looking like, Ranbir is entering a pandal with shoes instead of a temple. In his justification, he wrote, “There were some people in our community who were upset because of a shot in our trailer – Ranbir wearing the character’s shoes he rings the bell. As a producer (and a devotee) of this film , I wanted to politely address what happened here. In our film, Ranbir is not entering a temple, but a Durga Puja pandal.
For Durga Puja Celebration… 75 Years! One that I have been a part of since childhood. In my experience, we only take off our shoes, right on the platform where the deity is, and not when you enter the pandal.”
Ayan said, “It is important for me personally to reach out to anyone who may be disturbed by this image… because above all, Brahmastra has been created as a film experience that captures Indian culture, traditions and history.” This is why I made this film, so it is very important for me that this sentiment reaches to every Indian who is watching Brahmastra!”
The ‘Brahmastra’ trilogy is a three-part film franchise and marks the beginning of India’s first original universe, ‘The Astraverse’. The trailer of the film was unveiled on 15 June. Helmed by Ayan Mukerji, Brahmastra also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna apart from Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Reportedly, Shah Rukh Khan has a cameo in the project.
Meanwhile, apart from Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, the film also stars Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy and Amitabh Bachchan in pivotal roles. The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on 9 September.