Sarkar was passed off as a copy of The Godfather but its sequel Sarkar Raj had too many similarities to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's family to ignore.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supremo Raj Thackeray objected to the film after he was told that there was a character in the film that portrayed him in bad light. The said character Sanjay Somji (played by Rajesh Shringapure) even wore Raj Thackeray spectacles, as he incited the crowds against Sarkar and his son Shankar -- the former bearing a resemblance to Bal Thackeray, thanks to the rudraksh and the red tika.

A special screening was arranged for Raj, who soon okayed it.