Speaking at the Woman Life Freedom panel at the India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi on August 31, a short clip of Bhasker's critique of the film circulated virally, with multiple reports and online users accusing her of calling Rani Padmini and Rajput women who performed Jauhar "cowards". In response, Bhasker shared a video addressing the claims directly, asserting that her original words spoken in English were deliberately mistranslated and twisted out of context.
What Did Swara Actually Say in Her Clarification?
In her video statement released on X (formerly Twitter) on September 2, Bhasker pushed back against allegations that she demeaned historical figures:
“I want to state clearly that I never said Rani Padmavati was a coward, or that the queens of the palace and the women who committed Jauhar were cowards. That is being spread as an outright lie.”
Translating her original English remarks into Hindi, Bhasker clarified that she was discussing how modern survivors of sexual violence might perceive the cinematic glorification of honour-based suicide:
The Subjective Perspective: “What did I actually say? I said while watching the climax: ‘God forbid if I had been a rape victim, watching this film would make me feel like a coward for not killing myself to preserve honour.’ That is, I would feel the narrative was telling me I was a coward simply for surviving.”
Message to Online Trolls: “Those who want to abuse me, by all means do so, but at least do it on the right thing. When you don't understand the language, ask or verify before turning it into a lie to incite people.”
मेरा एक वीडियो क्लिप वायरल है- जिसे ग़लत रूप से झूठे ढंग से अनुवादित किया जा रहा है! मैंने कतई नहीं कहा कि रानी पद्मावती या कोई भी सती कायर थी । शर्मनाक है कि @ndtvindia और अन्य मीडिया चैनल और लोग बार बार झूठा इल्ज़ाम लगाकर लोगों को उत्तेजित कर रहे हैं ।
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 1, 2026
गाली देनी है तो दो- पर… pic.twitter.com/TR8sy5gRCr
The Core Debate: "Rape Survivors Have a Right to Life"
Elaborating on the philosophy behind her criticism, Bhasker emphasized that in a country grappling with serious crimes against women, popular cinema bears social responsibility in how it portrays female dignity
Questioning "Physical Purity" Over Life: "We live in the midst of a thriving rape culture. Should we be making cinema that sends the message that a woman's physical purity is more valuable than her very life? Are we telling rape survivors that dying would have been better than staying alive?"
Citing the Will to Live: Referencing high-profile cases like the 2012 Nirbhaya case, she stated: "Never underestimate a woman's will to live. Survivors have a right to exist with dignity, regardless of what has been inflicted upon them."
The Pregnant Woman Shot: Bhasker also recalled her visceral reaction to a specific close-up frame in Bhansali's film showing a pregnant woman walking into the fire pit, arguing that it deeply disturbed her to see unborn life extinguished under the premise of honour.
Trade Verdict:
Swara Bhasker’s swift video response aims to de-escalate bad-faith interpretations while holding her ground on the film’s modern thematic implications. By clarifying that her critique is aimed at the cinematic messaging around bodily autonomy and survivor dignity—rather than an insult to historical Rajput women—she has refocused the conversation on ethics and women's agency in visual storytelling.
