Filmfare faces backlash for promoting video of child recreating Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi ‘brothel manager’ character

Mumbai: A tweet by entertainment magazine Filmfare praising a child recreating Alia Bhatt's look as a madame from the upcoming movie "Gangubai Kathiawadi" led to intense online backlash for the magazine, forcing it to delete the tweet.

The movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali starring Alia Bhatt as a madame sexually assaulted by the mafia is set to release on February 25.

In the post, Filmfare wrote, “Knocked it out the park! How amazing is this recreation of Alia Bhatt's scene in Gangubai Kathiawadi?” - with a video of the little girl enacting Alia's coquettish mannerisms and dialogue.

Following the backlash Filmfare removed the tweet though the net is still abuzz with the topic. Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted “I'd urge @filmfare to be a little sensitive to what you'll are exposing children to and the kind of audience you'll cater to by using young kids. Parents, I hope you'll rethink how and what your children are used for.”

I’d urge @filmfare to be a little sensitive to what you’ll are exposing children to and the kind of audience you’ll cater to by using young kids. Parents, I hope you’ll rethink how and what your children are used for. 

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) February 13, 2022

Senior BJP leader Tarun Vijay tweeted “Filmfare and shameless owners Vineet and sameer jain must be booked by govt. They deserve no mercy. @TOIIndiaNews Group has emerged as biggest violater of constitutional provisions of a citizenship. Let Sameer's daughter play the madam”.

Filmfare and shameless owners Vineet and sameer jain must be booked by govt. They deserve no mercy. @TOIIndiaNews Group has emerged as biggest violater of constitutional provisions of a citizenship. Let Sameer’s daughter play the madam

— Tarun Vijay ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?? (@Tarunvijay) February 13, 2022

Author Saiswaroopa Iyer tweeted “That kid exploited in that filmfare ad seems barely four years old!!! What kind of parents let their daughter into recreating that stuff!!! It's disconcerting at so many levels!”.

That kid exploited in that filmfare ad seems barely four years old!!! What kind of parents let their daughter into recreating that stuff!!!

Its disconcerting at so many levels!

— Saiswaroopa (@Sai_swaroopa) February 13, 2022

Director Vivek Agnihotri said “But deleting a tweet by @filmfare doesn't mean acknowledgment of mistake. It's simply done to avoid outrage.”

But deleting a tweet by @filmfare doesn’t mean acknowledgment of mistake. It’s simply done to avoid outrage. https://t.co/4YJL8Yc9IL

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) February 13, 2022

Another twitterati posted: "The look in the child's eyes is chilling. As if she has imbibed the violence & debauchery of the character. What kind of parents would do this to their innocent child. They are the first ones who should be behind bars. This is the impact Bollywood creates with its trash."

The look in the child’s eyes is chilling. As if she has imbibed the violence & debauchery of the character. What kind of parents would do this to their innocent child. They are the first ones who should be behind bars. This is the impact Bollywood creates with its trash.

— Savitri Mumukshu - ???????? ???????? (@MumukshuSavitri) February 13, 2022

Another twitter user tagged Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, and posted: "This is highly problematic. .@smritiirani ji please look into this and refer it to the relevant department to take sufficient legal action against @filmfare to discourage this type of content." (UNI)

This is highly problematic. .@smritiirani ji please look into this and refer it to the relevant department to take sufficient legal action against .@filmfare to discourage this type of content.

cc: @KanchanGupta

— SanksP (@SanksP) February 13, 2022