The Hindi film fraternity expressed shock Wednesday over BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj's statement that all Hindu women must produce at least four children to protect Hinduism.

Sakshi Maharaj made the comments at a gathering in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, igniting widespread anger in social networking platforms.

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt tweeted: "Sakshi Maharaj wants all Hindu women to have at least four children. The good news, he hasn't specified the number of husbands."

Composer Vishal Dadlani, a strong supporter of the Aam Aadmi Party, posted: "I finally get what BJP means by development. New developments in stupidity, every day! In an overloaded nation, this."

Comedian Virr Das saw the lighter side of the matter.

"Dear Sakshi Maharaj, as long as every Hindu woman has even one kid who laughs at your speech, I think we will be ok," he said.


Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha added: "Just making it clear that I am a different Hindu from this Sakshi... Very Different. Are you too???"

The statement also elicited some strong reactions.

Celebrity jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali tweeted: "Three percent of India pays taxes to support an already overpopulated country where majority are illiterate and unemployed. On the other hand (you) have (people) like Sakshi Maharaj asking (women) to produce four children. Ask to make arrangements to support them."

Tanuj Garg, former CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures, said: "Sakshi Maharaj wants every Hindu woman to produce four children. And we want him gagged."