BOMBAY TIMES (March 7, 2014)

Sampat Pal Devi is the founder of Gulabi Gang, a group of pink sariclad lathi-wielding women vigilantes and activists from Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh. The leader had moved the Delhi High Court seeking a restraining order on Gulaab Gang’s release, citing, the makers had not taken any permission from her before making the film, which is reportedly based on her life.

Allowing her plea, the Delhi High court stayed the release of the film. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva restrained the film’s producers and their agents from “releasing, exhibiting, distributing and promoting” the film in India till the next date of hearing on May 8. Sampat Pal told us from Delhi, “They did not take any permission from me before making the film, when the copyright to Gulabi Gang belongs to me. Unhone chori kiya hai. Humara tamasha bana ke rakh diya.”

The activist is not too keen on seeing the film either. She claims, “Main unki picture kyu dekhu? They are big people. They never came to me.” Nor is she flattered with Madhuri Dixit-Nene bringing her character to life onscreen. “Madhuri playing my role might be good for the audience, not me.” While many perceive this move to be a publicity stunt, Sampat Pal rubbishes the accusations, saying, “Let people say what they want to say.”

In spite of several attempts, Gulaab Gang’s producer Anubhav Sinha, chose not to respond to our calls or messages at the time of going to press.