Prakash Jha's 2010 political drama Raajneeti remains a memorable film not just for its stellar star cast but also for the controversies it stirred during its release. The movie, inspired by the epic Mahabharata, boasted an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal, Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpayee, Nana Patekar, and Naseeruddin Shah, among others. However, in a recent revelation, director Prakash Jha opened up about the struggles he faced in getting the film released, shedding light on the political hurdles it encountered.
In a candid interview with ANI, Jha recalled a significant roadblock encountered during the film's censorship process. He revealed that certain members of the Congress party raised concerns during the censor board screening, suspecting that Katrina Kaif's character was based on Sonia Gandhi, the prominent political figure. Consequently, the film was denied a censor certificate, prompting Jha to seek legal recourse.
Katrina Kaif in Rajneeti. That’s it. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/jSeN1Lvn0T — 🪔. (@Heeriyeee_) November 28, 2022
"I remember when I made Raajneeti, a few members from the Congress party came for the Censor Board screening of the film. They rejected my film and did not give us the certificate. They thought Katrina’s character was inspired by Sonia Gandhi," Jha shared. Undeterred by the setback, Jha took the matter to the tribunal, which eventually overturned the decision and granted the film its certification.
He said, "I moved the tribunal, which ultimately overruled the panel and gave us a certificate to go ahead with the film. I was even ready to take the matter to the Supreme Court as I knew there was nothing wrong with my film.”
While promoting the film in 2010, Katrina Kaif had addressed the misconceptions surrounding her character. Despite drawing inspiration from Priyanka Gandhi's demeanor for her role, Katrina emphasized that her character was not a portrayal of Sonia Gandhi. "Prakashji (director Prakash Jha) liked Priyanka’s movement and that was only to see a person who is independent and modern and who is a leader. But my character is not at all based on her," she clarified during the promotions.
