Prakash Jha, Bobby Deol issued notices for portrayal of Hindu saints in their MXPlayer show Aashram

A Jodhpur court on Monday sought stands of filmmaker Prakash Jha and actor Bobby Deol on a plea taking offence to the controversial portrayal of Hindu saints in their recently released web series _Aashram_ . In the MX Player web series, Deol has played the central role akin to some self-styled godmen convicted and serving jail terms for various penal offences in different parts of the country, including Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Issuing notices to Prakash Jha and Bobby Deol, Jodhpur District and Session Judge Ravindra Joshi listed the matter for hearing on 11 January. The petition against the web series Aashram, resembling the name of a convicted godman, was filed by local resident Khush Khandelwal. “The portrayal of Deol as a Hindu saint has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, who respect and worship saints. His portrayal as a rapist, corrupt and drug dealer has diminished the place saints hold for Hindus,” Khandelwal contended in his petition. Khandelwal had earlier complained to the police, seeking registration of an FIR against the duo, but with the police refusing to lodge any case over his complaint, he had moved the court of the additional chief judicial magistrate with the same plea. With the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate too dismissing his plea, Khandelwal approached the Jodhpur district and session judge challenging the ACJM’s decision. The second season of _Aashram Chapter 2: The Dark Side_ had been released on 11 November, but the series has attracted condemnation for the controversial portrayal of Hindu saints in it. A social media campaign had also been launched terming it to be a malicious portrayal of Hindu religious culture and ‘ashrams’. Karni Sena had also sent a legal notice to the producers of the film.