Aditi Dhiman, who made her debut with Hamare Baarah, revealed that she receiver death threats due to the controversies embroiled around the film. She also said that her Muslim friends became a pillar of support when she received threats.
After many ebbs and flows, Kamal Chandra’s Hamare Baarah was finally released on the big screens on June 21, 2024. In the movie, Aditi Dhiman, who plays the role of Zarine, Annu Kapoor’s daughter, has become the talk of the town because of her rebellious character. Aditi, who made her Bollywood debut in the film, told exclusively to india.com that since the film was embroiled in controversies, she received death threats, making it hard for her to even step out of her home. However, the actress revealed that her Muslim friends became a pillar of support, amid those threats and helped her move around the city without any hesitation.
Aditi opened up about how her Muslim friends turned out to be her support system and gave her the courage to step anywhere in the city even after receiving death and rape threats.
Aditi Dhiman Talks About Death and Rape Threats
When we asked Aditi how she tackled death and rape threats due to the controversy surrounding the film, the actor replied, “When it started, I got really scared and didn’t step out of my house. I ended up calling a few of my friends, and you won’t believe that most of my friends are Muslims. So, they came and took me out of the house. They assured me that they were with me and that I didn’t need to worry. They understood that people were interpreting it wrong. There is nothing my fault; I am just doing my work. Honestly, the death threats affected me so much that I literally cried in front of them like a child.”
Aditi also revealed that she did not inform her parents about the threats she was receiving, which was one of the biggest factors for her concern about her security. Later, the actor also said that due to the bluster the movie garnered, her mother found out about the threats and called her to find out what had been happening.
Aditi said, “So, one evening, my mother gave me a call and said she watched the news. What has been happening? I told her that everything was okay. So, I had to act strong in front of them, but, in reality, I was really scared and didn’t know who to talk to about this. I was clueless, sitting and crying in my room. But my friends came, and they really supported me a lot, and I am very grateful to them.”
About Hamare Baarah Controversy
The controversy surrounding Hamare Baarah erupted with the release of its uncensored trailer, sparking a debate over the portrayal of Muslim women. Subsequently, the Bombay High Court intervened, directing the producers to implement specific edits before the film’s release. According to the Times of India, the court’s ruling included the addition of two disclaimers related to Sharia law, displayed in both English and Hindi for 12 seconds each. Senior advocate Rahul Narichania, representing the producers, deemed this requirement ‘ample time for comprehension.’
Furthermore, the court mandated the removal of two dialogues, modification of three specific words within a dialogue, and muting an Arabic recitation of a Quranic verse at the film’s outset. These edits were deemed necessary to ensure the film’s release without causing offense or misrepresenting any religious sentiments
Hamare Baarah created a massive uproar in society when the makers first released the teaser of the film. Many claimed that the movie hurt the sentiments of a section of society. The movie was initially supposed to hit the big screens on June 7, 2024. However, due to the controversies surrounding the film, the Bombay High Court shifted the release date to June 14.
Even before June 14, the release of the film was halted. The makers were asked to cut down scenes and dialogues from the film that might create tension between communities. After alterations and toning down, the makers were finally given a green signal to release the film on June 21, 2024. Apart from Aditi Dhiman, the movie also features Annu Kapoor, Parth Samthaan, Ashwini Kalsekar, Manoj Joshi, and Paritosh Tripathi in key roles.