Despite legal notice, producer adamant that he won’t edit out scene of pregnant woman doing the saat pheras
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 6, 2017)

Makers of Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana didn’t see it coming. Earlier this week, a right wing outfit had staged protests outside producer T P Aggarwal’s office over a scene that shows a pregnant Akshara Haasan taking ‘saat pheras’, but he refused to succumb to ‘pressure tactics’, as reported by mid-day. Now, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has sent a legal notice to the production house, accusing them of attempting to maliciously outrage Hindu sentiments.

The film, starring Akshara, Vivaan Shah and Gurmeet Choudhary, is scheduled to hit theatres tomorrow. The matter will come up for hearing in court today. Reacting to the controversy, director Manish Harishankar tells mid-day, "There is no question of deleting the scene. It's a film about culture and traditions in changing times. The scene is integral to the story. I have asked our producers to hold a meeting with the VHP activists and reason this out. I don't want the matter to reach the court."

While an out of court settlement is a possibility, Aggarwal had been confident all along that nothing would stop the film's scheduled release. "I don't see why they are waking up just two days before the movie hits screens. Our promos have been on air for the past month," he argues. What is his plan of action, especially on such short notice?

"They have asked us arrange a screening for them. We aren't even considering the worst-case scenario — about Laali Ki Shaadi... being stalled. I have immense faith in the judiciary. What works in our favour is that it has already been cleared by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification). Pahlaj Nihalani (CBFC boss) follows the rulebook to the T. If there indeed was something immoral or objectionable about our film, the Board wouldn't have passed it without suggesting cuts," adds Aggarwal.