INDIAN TELEVISION NEWS

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Aishwarya, Hrithik upbeat about 'Jodhaa Akbar'

'Jodhaa Akbar' lead pair Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan are optimistic that the historical romance will do well and the controversy over distortion of facts would disappear once people go to watch the film.

Both stars were in this suburb near the national capital Friday evening for the premiere of director Ashutosh Gowariker's film.

Rubbishing any controversy, an upbeat Hrithik told reporters: 'I just want everyone to relax, munch popcorn and enjoy the film. There is no controversy!'

Aishwarya, who was accompanied by husband Abhishek Bachchan, said: 'Ashutosh (Gowariker) comes for a couple of minutes in the beginning of the film and clarifies that the character (Jodhaa) is documented under five different names. Among them, Jodhaa is most popular name and hence the director used it so people can relate to the character.'

'After the audience watches the film they will understand and the row over distortion of facts will fade away,' she added.

The Karni Sena, a Rajput organisation, is protesting against screening of the film as they claim Gowariker's representation of Jodhabai as Mughal emperor Akbar's wife is incorrect.

The community claims Jodhabai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber as portrayed in the film, but the daughter of Motaraja Udai Singh of Marwar. They say she was married to Akbar's son Salim alias Jehangir. And Mughal king Shahjahan was her son.

The film was not screened Friday in Rajasthan following protests by the Karni Sena.

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