Deepika Padukone at JNU: Bollywood are actors meant to dance, says MP BJP leader

Bollywood Deepika Padukone's silent, but telling presence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus where students have been protesting against a recent incident of violence unsealed by by masked men had evoked mixed reactions.

Some lauded the brave move, while others called for boycott of her movie Chhapaak. While Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the actor should not try to portray herself as a warrior or Mastani, Madhya Pradesh leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava was more vicious in his attack. Bhargava, without naming Padukone, said Bollywood actors are meant to dance and they should do that and let the students study. If someone wants to do politics, they should get into active politics, he added.

Bhargava's comments came even as Union minister Prakash Javadekar, when asked about the actor's presence at the JNU campus, had said not just artistes, even a common man can go anywhere to express their opinion in a democracy like India. "This country is a democracy. Why only artistes, even a common can go anywhere and express his opinion," the minister had said.

Meanwhile, Chhapaak has been made tax free in both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, a move that did not seem to have gone down well with the BJP. According to news agency IANS, taking on MP chief Minister Kamal Nath, a BJP spokesperson said, “Kamal Nath ji is never tired of blaming Modi for not releasing money or Shivraj ji for his legacy of an empty treasury as an excuse for his inability to waive farmers' debt in the state or checking of unemployment! However, the moment Deepika Padukone joined the traitors against Modi, he decided to exempt all her films. Kamal Nath ji should let the people of Madhya Pradesh know whether bread for the farmer is more important or butter chicken and vodka for Deepika's home?"