Manoj Bajpayee's 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' gets legal notice from convicted Asaram Bapu: Deets

Indian film actor Manoj Bajpayee breaks silence on the legal notice issued by the charitable trust of convicted godman, Asaram Bapu to ban his upcoming film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’.

Based on the true events, the Bajpayee-led courtroom drama is said to be the biopic of Advocate P.C. Solanki who single-handedly fought a case for the rape of a minor against the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu under the POCSO Act.

Watch ARY News live on live.arynews.tv

As per the reports from Indian media outlets, the godman sent a legal notice to the makers of the film through his charitable trust. He has asked the court to issue prohibitory orders against the promotion as well as the release of the film, citing ‘objectionable and defamatory’ content against him, which can ‘tarnish’ his reputation.

Moreover, in a notice sent to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Asaram’s trust urged the board to ban the release of the film and also withdraw the trailer from the internet, which caused ‘mental agony, humiliation and ’embarrassment’ to the godman and his devotees.

Reacting to the notice, the ‘Family Man’ actor said, “The case is already in the public domain and the verdict is out… We have to be truthful to all those incidents that have happened.”

“Also in our film, the most important thing is how well we treat the victim,” he added. “We had to be very sensitive to the girl who gathered the courage to fight the big ones. And for five years give testimony and evidence, and say her side of the story without fearing humiliation, without fearing for her life.”

Manoj Bajpayee has not had dinner in last 14 years

“Also, we had to be sensitive not only to the character but also to the actor who is playing the role. She herself is 15-16 years old, and she has given a remarkable performance,” Bajpayee asserted.

Speaking on the matter, film’s producer Asif Shaikh stated, “We have made a biopic on PC Solanki and I had bought the rights from him to make this film. Now, if someone is saying that the film is based on them, they can think whatever they can and we can’t stop that. Only the film will be able to tell the truth, when it comes out.”

It is pertinent to note that a special court in Jodhpur, India, convicted Asaram guilty of the rape charges and pronounced a verdict of life imprisonment in April 2018.

Meanwhile, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, is set to premiere on the streaming platform Zee5 on May 23.