Politics has taken strong hold on everything today: Raveena Tandon

NEW DELHI:  Actress Raveena Tandon, who has slammed the protests and violence against the release of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansalis "Padmavati", on Saturday said that politics has taken a "very strong hold" on everything today.

Speaking at the Agenda Aaj Tak conclave here, Raveena also slammed the Central Board of Film Certification and said that it becomes "dysfunctional".

"Politics has taken a very strong hold on everything today. It's very easy to say that, ‘Why doesn't the film industry take a stand?' Unfortunately this happened to us even when the underworld was ruling," Raveena said.

"Whenever there is any natural calamity, the film industry stands as one. But I think it's wrong to say why we don't take a stand. What happens is that it ultimately affects the film as new problems come up," she added.

Raveena went on to give examples from the past and said: "My father told me decades back that (late poet) Majrooh Sultanpuriji was jailed for a year-and-a-half for being critical for the certain government that was there at that time -- he had a written a poem on that. 

"How many of you know that legendary Kishore Kumar was banned from singing, performing or anything just because he had refused to politically campaign for a certain party. These are things that the (entertainment) industry goes through."

"Padmavati" is being slammed for "distorting historical facts" about the Rajput queen by various political organisations. Also, Bhansali and the film's lead actress Deepika Padukone have received threats from various political leaders. 

"I know the maker of ‘Padmavati'. I have seen bits of the film and its script. That's why I say that whatever is happening is wrong (with the makers). Our censor board has been established for a certain functional purpose. But if CBFC to a certain extent gets dysfunctional and we start thinking about all sectors, community or every human, then no film can be made," Raveena said.

"I believe Bhansali is one of the greatest filmmakers and I feel he should be felicitated as he to a certain extent makes films which glorifies our history - not just ‘Padmavati', you can see his previous works also. Not once he has brought down the image of India," she added.