Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar while speaking to the media in Bhilai where he had gone to inaugurate the workshop of the Natya Shala, revealed that a section of Bollywood was against Modi becoming the Prime Minister in 2014. Hindi film industry, which prides itself on its secular image, appeared to be taking sides for the first time during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with some Bollywood A-listers asking people to vote “strategically” to protect the country’s secular character.

He further recalled how B-town was split into groups, one supporting PM Modi, of which he and Anupam Kher were a part of and another against Modi, with around 60 celebrities signing an appeal urging the people to protect the country’s ‘secular foundation’ taking an overt anti-Modi stance.

Madhur went on to talk about the controversy encompassing his movie ‘Indu Sarkar’. He said he was disappointed when no one came and backed him on the controversy created over the film. He strongly condemned politicking on movies and creating pressure for banning it. He clearly dismissed the allegation that his movie was funded by BJP government saying that if at all he needed funding it would be for a higher budget movie and not for a low budgeted movie like Indu Sarkar.

In 2014, an appeal from several Bollywood actors, directors and scriptwriters to Indian voters has split the film industry down the middle. Among the sixty film personalities who have signed the letter are Imtiaz Ali, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nandita Das, Govind Nihalani, Saeed Mirza, Zoya Akhtar, Nandita Das, Kabir Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Shubha Mudgal and Aditi Rao Hydari.

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Scriptwriter Anjum Rajabali, who drafted the letter had said, “Our sense of India comes from the fact that we are a secular country and if that notion is challenged…if that itself is vulnerable at this moment, that is what has compelled people to speak up. It is the right-wing fundamentalist forces within the BJP that are making young people feel very insecure.”

Director Madhur Bhandarkar had then kicked off a debate on the issue on Twitter, asking why a “secular place like Bollywood” is being sought to be divided ” in the garb of stopping so-called divisive forces”.

Shocking to see some colleagues , under garb of stopping so-called divisive forces, are themselves dividing a secular place like Bollywood. — Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 16, 2014

Launching a personal attack on a man who has done more for his State than any other leader, reeks of conspiracy & unwarranted paranoia. — Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 16, 2014

He had come out in support of PM Modi saying it’s “time India got a visionary leader”

Let’s hope better sense prevails and our film industry elects @narendramodi with a thumping majority.It’s time India got a visionary leader. — Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 16, 2014

Amongst others who came forward to support Bhandarkar were Anupam Kher, Tusshar Kapoor, and producer Ashoke Pandit. As expected Twitterati came out in full support of Modi, lashing out at Bollywood celebrities, attacking those who supported the initiative.