Netflix's Maharaj: How Aamir Khan’s son Junaid’s film is a huge global success | Not Just Bollywood

Featuring Junaid Khan in his debut role alongside Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey and Sharvari (in a special appearance), the film, released on June 21st, garnered excellent reviews. Making it a must watch not only in India, but globally.

Not just Junaid Khan or Jaideep Ahlawat, director Siddharth P Malhotra should also be celebrated for handling the story of Netflix’s Maharaj in a sensitive manner. This period drama has raised important questions which cannot be ignored. And we don’t need big stars for a film to be successful, we just need good craftsmen and both Jaideep Ahlawat and Junaid Khan has done justice to their roles.

Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, the YRF Entertainment and Netflix feature film collaboration film was released on 21st June. Netflix and YRF Entertainment collaboration Maharaj, has made it to the global non-English top ten list in 22 countries.

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Junaid Khan, the new shining star to watch out for

Junaid says, “I’m only thankful for the love, the appreciation, as well as the feedback that people have given me for my debut. I congratulate my producer YRF, my director Siddharth P. Malhotra, Jaideep sir, Sharvari, Shalini and every cast and crew member at this special moment. This is our collective win. We made a special film that Netflix has taken to the world and it is resonating with audiences everywhere.”

Netflix’s Maharaj is indeed unique

 Following this feat, the film quickly climbed to number two on Netflix’s top ten list in the non-English category in the very next week of it’s release.

Based on the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case, the film has resonated with audiences for its compelling narrative and exceptional performances, showcasing the power of this amazing collaboration.

Set in the pre-independence era between 1850-1900, Karsandas (  Junaid Khan  ) is in the Vaishnav community in Gujarat. Since his childhood, he is a curious person. Karsandas played by Junaid, had a progressive mind. The story of Netflix’s Maharaj didn’t try to pull down any community or any religious belief, but rather tried saying that you cannot call yourself God or bigger than God. Most importantly, Maharaj makes us understand that we need to encourage a question child and answer to all his/her doubts patiently.

Enlightens us on the Maharaj Libel Case

On October 21, 1860, Karsandas Mulji, editor of the Gujarati newspaper Satya Prakash, published an article titled “The Primitive Religion of the Hindus and the Present Heterodox Opinions.” The article exposed the alleged adulterous and immoral acts of Vaishnav priests, specifically targeting Jadunathjee Brizruttonjee Maharaj of the Vallabhacharya sect. Mulji accused the sect of sexual exploitation, shamelessness, immodesty, rascality, and deceit, detailing how the Maharaj defiled the wives and daughters of his devotees.

In response, Jadunathjee Maharaj filed a libel suit against Mulji and Nanabhoy Rustomjee, the printer, on May 14, 1861, in the Supreme Court of Bombay. The trial began on January 26, 1862, and lasted twenty-four days and attracted significant public attention. On April 22, 1862, the Chief Justice ruled in favor of the defendants, upholding the press’s duty to expose such misdeeds. The court confirmed the truth of the sexual exploitation charges and highlighted that religious beliefs cannot obscure morality. This landmark judgment by Judge Joseph Arnould underscored the press’s role in moral accountability and was deemed the “greatest trial of modern times since the trial of Warren Hastings.

WATCH the trailer of Netflix’s Maharaj here: