On Sunday, a gang of Bajrang Dal members attacked filmmaker Prakash Jha's set in Bhopal, where his web series Ashram was being shot. According to the authorities, they smeared ink on the filmmaker's face. Witnesses' smartphone videos showed Bajrang Dal members following down the crew, catching at least one of them and brutally hitting him with a metal lampstand. Members of the right-wing group stated that the show Ashram, starring Bobby Deol, was an attack on Hinduism and that it would not be allowed to be filmed until the title was altered. According to a Bajrang Dal representative, Jha, who has not yet filed a complaint in the case, has promised to modify the name of the series.
A mob of Bajrang Dal members shouted slogans like “Prakash Jha Murdabad“, “Bobby Deol Murdabad” and “Jai Shri Ram” as they attacked the set at Old Jail Premises located in Arera Hills in the evening.“They made Ashram 1, Ashram 2 and were shooting Ashram 3 here. Prakash Jha showed in Ashram that the guru was abusing women. Does he have the guts to make such a film on a church or madrasa? Who does he think he is?” Bajrang Dal leader Sushil Surhele said.
“Bajrang Dal challenges him, we won’t let him make this film. So far we have just blackened Prakash Jha’s face. We are looking for Bobby Deol. He should learn something from his brother (Sunny Deol). He made such patriotic movies,” he added. The police have said that even though no one from Mr. Jha’s team has pressed charges, those involved will be identified and arrested. “Action will be taken against those who disrupted the shooting and vandalized property today itself. They will be arrested,” senior police officer Irshad Wali said.“Anti-social elements ransacked vehicles created trouble. Crew members of Ashram will be given fill security and it will be ensured this does not happen again,” he added.
Another right-wing gang, the Karni Sena, invaded the sets of Deepika Padukone's film 'Padmaavat' in 2017, assaulting director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and other crew members, forcing the film to change its name from 'Padmaavati' and edit sequences. After receiving concerns from various Hindu groups and the creators being threatened with arrest by the Uttar Pradesh government, Amazon had to offer an apology and make adjustments to its Saif Ali Khan-starrer web series "Tandav."