Chandigarh:
Actor Janhvi Kapoor, who is shooting for her upcoming film “Good Luck Jerry” in Punjab, became the target of the protesting farmers’ anger this week. A group of protesters agitating against the 3 contentious agriculture laws on Monday, disrupted the shooting and demanded the actor make a public statement supporting farmers. They, nonetheless, cleared the place just after finding assurances from the crew.
Later, Ms Kapoor issued a statement on the social media web page, Instagram, supporting farmers.
“Farmers are at the heart of our country. I recognise and value the role that they play in feeding our nation. I hope a resolution is reached soon that benefits the farmers,” she wrote.
“They had told the crew and the director that Bollywood actors have neither said anything in support of farmers’ protest nor made any comment. When the film director assured them that Janhvi Kapoor would make a comment on the protest, they went back. The shoot is going on,” a nearby police officer, Balwinder Singh, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Visuals showed protesters raising slogans at the place of the shooting in the presence of police.
The actor is shooting for “Good Luck Jerry” developed by filmmaker Aanand L Rai. It is getting directed by Sidharth Sengupta, recognized for directing films like “Raanjhanaa” and the “Tanu Weds Manu” series.
“Good Luck Jerry” also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Meeta Vashishth, Neeraj Sood and Sushant Singh.
Farmers have been protesting against the 3 laws for weeks at Delhi’s Singhu border. Several noted Punjabi actors and singers have openly supported the farmers. Singer-songwriter Babbu Maan, a star in Punjab, on Wednesday burnt copies of the laws at the Singhu border to show solidarity with the protesting farmers.
Farmers worry that these laws will outcome in the phasing out of regular crop markets, leaving them at the mercy of huge corporate homes. They also claim that by means of these laws, the government intends to scrap the MSP program – a charge denied by the centre.
After many rounds of talks failed to break the deadlock, the Supreme Court on Tuesday place the laws on hold and formed a committee to facilitate resolution. Farmers, nonetheless, have decided to continue with their protests, sticking to their demand for repealing the laws.
Last month, a group of BJP leaders in Punjab’s Phagwara had to slip out from the backdoor beneath police protection just after farmers protesting the laws picketed a hotel that they had been holding an occasion in.
With inputs from agencies