'Ban Maharaj' Trends A Day Before Aamir's Son Debut, Netizens Cite Insult of Hindu Saints

Aamir Khan's son Junaid is all set to make his movie debut Maharaj, set to stream on Netflix on June 14. In a rather strange move, the movie's trailer has not been been released, no promotions have taken place and barring a teaser poster of the film featuring Jaideep Ahlawat and Junaid Khan, no information about the plotline or characters and their roles in the film have been revealed.

Meanwhile, a day before the Maharaj premiere on the streaming service, the film's hashtag has gone viral on social media with many demanding boycott of the film citing its alleged hinduphobic content.

Call for ban on Maharaj movie gathers pace

Hashtags like 'Boycott Netflix', 'Ban Maharaj Film' and 'Aamir Khan' started trending on X on Thursday morning and well into the afternoon ahead of the film's premiere on June 14. The movie's one and only promotional poster seemed to have created a stir on social media. In it, they are standing side by side with Jaideep's character sporting a 'tilak' on his forehead while Junaid's character, reportedly a journalist, is dressed in a waistcoat.

VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi was one of the many X users who called for a ban on Maharaj. "Won't tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma . Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix," Prachi wrote on the microblogging site. "Until when Hindu saints will continue to be insulted in films?" asked another X user. Check out more posts on X calling for ban on Maharaj.

Ban Maharaj hashtags a recap of call for boycott of Laal Singh Chaddha

The boycott calls for Maharaj appear to be a recap of what happened with Aamir Khan's film Laal Singh Chaddha. Many posts calling for a boycott of the 2022 movie recalled an earlier controversy in 2015 when Aamir had said he was alarmed by a number of incidents of growing "intolerance" in India and that his then wife Kiran Rao had suggested they should probably leave the country.

What is Maharaj about?

According to the makers, "Maharaj" is set in pre-independent India and is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, which was ignited by "allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure".

According to a press release issued by Netflix last month, Maharaj follows Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer, who was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and social reform. A student at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and a protege of the scholar-leader Dadabhai Naoroji, Mulji wrote on widow remarriage, stood up for the oppressed, and sowed the seeds of reform in society.

"It all came to a head in the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, which was ignited by allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure, the case garnered widespread attention and scrutiny, setting the stage for what many consider to be one of the most significant legal battles of all time," the streamer said.

(With inputs from PTI)