Veteran actor, wife of Javed Akhtar and five-time National Award winner Shabana Azmi insisted on the film industry to shun the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Monday mentioning the threats to Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali over the film Padmavati.

In a statement, Shabana said that the “film industry needs to take a strong cohesive action and rebuff to be sitting ducks anymore.”

Here is her full statement:

The whole film industry, in one voice, must refuse IFFI Goa in protest in opposition to the threats issued to Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Padmavati.

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan is sitting quite. The first FIR filed is under Arms Act because there was open firing; no action has been taken in opposition to the criminals threatening bare violent behavior. As an alternative she and the CM of UP urging for a holdup in Padmavati’s release because of law and order problems! But the first vow the CM took was to decisively clear the State of its criminal elements.

CBFC sends film back because some paper formalities are not complete! They take alternative to some dormant rule that says only 63 days after the application is given will the film be screened for CBFC, and thus ensure that the Gujarat election is over and done with. Are we fools to not see through the design of fomenting unrest and polarizing votes?