 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Dera Saccha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday deferred a premiere of his controversial film "Messenger of God" in which he claims he has not tried to project himself as God or hurt any religious sentiments.
In the wake of controversy over clearance of the film by Appellate Tribunal of Film Certification Board, he dismissed suggestions that the nod could have been fast tracked for him. "I have clearly said that I am just a human being. The acts portrayed in the movie are simply stunts," he said in an apparent rejection of criticism from Sikh groups that he was portraying himself as God and Sikh Guru in the movie.
Addressing a press conference in Gurgoan where the film was to be premiered on Friday, Ram Rahim said, "We have not said anything wrong in the movie. The movie does not spread superstition. I don't feel it will cause law and order problems."
Explaining the reasons for not holding the premiere, he said that though they had the clearance, they were waiting for a formal order to show the movie.
About the proposed release on January 18, he said, "We have not finalised anything. There are still meetings going on about the possibility of releasing it within such a short time."
Ram Rahim claimed that the film, in which he plays the lead role besides directing it and scoring the music, is not a show of power by him and was made simply to caution the youth against abuse of drugs.
"We have been asked to remove two dialogues, both of which were spoken by my co-actors and not me. We have been also asked to include two warnings before the movie that it does not hurt any religious sentiments. Certain stunts have been performed in the movie. Even Shah Rukh Khan has stopped a train and Hrithik Roshan stopped a plane," he said when asked about his flamboyant portrayal in the movie.
Ram Rahim claimed ignorance when asked about the resignation of the censor board chief Leela Samson. "I am not aware of the reasons behind not releasing the film. I am not aware who Leela Samson is and why she has resigned," he said.
Image: Dera Saccha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim