Covering Bollywood and the Hindi Cinema

Looks like now director Ashutosh Gowarikar's epic Akbar Jodha is in the hot-seat as a number of animal rights activists have filed a police complaint and a public suit against the film unit in Jaipur, alleging cruelty against animals.

"We filed a complaint Nov 18 in Amber police station as there have been cases of cruelty on animals during the shooting of the film," Naresh Kumar Kadiyan, the chairman of the Haryana-based People for Animals (PFA), said.

The film has employed over 80 elephants, 100 horses and 55 camels and according to Kadiyan

"These animals are being subjected to great hardships during the shooting and there is no facility of a vet doctor. These animals, fully decked up, are made to stand up long hours in the hot sun,"

I have full faith in Ashutosh Gowarikar's directorial skills but it would be quite unpardonable if the charges were found to be true. Those who feel that animal activists tend to over-react should remember that the laws in India hardly protect animals!