Telangana: Tigress Avni killer Asghar Ali Khan serves notice on ‘Sherni’ filmmakers

HYDERABAD: Shooter Asghar Ali Khan has served a legal notice on makers of movie ‘Sherni’, starring Vidya Balan, stating that facts regarding killing of man-eater tigress Avni were distorted. ‘Sherni’ is believed to based on Avni, also known as T1 tigress in Yavatmal in Maharashtra and shot dead by Asghar in 2018.
In reply, ‘Sherni’ makers Abundantia Enterainment Pvt Ltd denied claims and allegations of Asghar and his father. Asghar, in the notice, said, “Film ‘Sherni’ could further aggravate the issue or may add fuel to the fire, which will not only hamper the ongoing investigation but will also prejudice the rights besides causing severe damage to their reputation. My father and I were portrayed in poor light as if we (are) trigger happy persons.”
Shafath Ali Khan said, “The story, though they are claiming it as fiction, is of T1 tigress. They distorted the facts and are trying to influence ongoing PIL. Asghar saved people by shooting T1 in self-defence at four metres distance when it charged.”
“T1, straying into human-dominated landscape, killed 14 people. The second aspect is the heroine of the film, based on a forest officer who led 13 failed attempts at tranquillizing. My son Asghar and I went there with the invitation of the government. Courts also refused to stay the shooting orders. This film is made at the behest of animal right activists to defame us,” he added.
Responding to the notice, Abundantia Enterainment said: “Sherni is a creative work of fiction containing elements that are fictionalised. The film doesn’t depict Asghar and his father Shafat Ali Khan in any manner. They haven’t produced any evidence to prove that film has resemblances with Asghar and his father.”