Ajay Devgn’s upcoming film ‘Chauhan’ has found itself at the center of yet another controversy. After the teaser sparked criticism for its depiction of the Kashmir conflict, the film has now faced objections from the Kshatriya Parishad. The organization has accused the makers of misappropriating Rajput identity and history, alleging that the legacy of the Chauhan dynasty is being drawn into present-day political narratives.
The Kshatriya Parishad objected to the use of the Chauhan identity
In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, the Kshatriya Parishad condemned it, describing it as a “weapon of Rajput history and misuse of Rajput identity”. The agency emphasized that the Chauhan dynasty is an important part of India’s historical legacy and should not be employed for “electoral or ideological purposes”.It added, “The Chauhans are a historic Rajput (Kshatriya) dynasty whose legacy belongs to history, not to partisan propaganda or media debate.”The organization expressed concern over repeated attempts to link Rajput identity to divisive political debates. Calling the development “deeply unfortunate”, it said, “At a time when Rajput voices are not represented in the mainstream media and public discourse, invoking a Rajput clan’s name only to incite anger, stir up caste and communal sentiments or create political passion is both irresponsible and disrespectful.”
Organizations cite historical examples
Questioning this as a simplistic interpretation of medieval Indian history, Parishad argued that the political alliances of the era cannot be seen only through a communal lens.It cites several historical examples to support its argument, saying, “Mahmud Lodi fought under Maharana Sanga in the Battle of Khanwa; Hakim Khan Sur commanded a contingent in Maharana Pratap’s army at Haldighati; Farid Khan, who later became Sher Shah Suri, was traditionally associated with military service under the early supervision of the Raja of Raja and Raja. He gave his life fighting the Lodi forces in the First Battle of Panipat.”“The statement added, “These episodes illustrate that medieval political alliances were formed by statesmanship, loyalty and military strategy – not by the sectarian narrative imposed on them today.”Reiterating its position, the organization concluded, “The Kshatriya Parishad rejects every attempt to weaponize Rajput history or proper Rajput identity for electoral or ideological purposes. Historical memory must not become a tool of communal agitation.” We urge political actors, filmmakers and media organizations to engage responsibly with India’s past, respecting its historical complexity, rather than exploiting Rajput heritage as fodder for divisive political debates.“
The teaser has already sparked criticism
This is not the first controversy surrounding ‘Chauhan’. The teaser had earlier drawn criticism for some dialogues and depiction of the Kashmir conflict, with several social media users questioning its messaging.One of the most controversial moments is a dialogue that suggests that pellet guns do only “minimal damage”. The comment sparked a backlash, including from actor Swara Bhaskar, who criticized the film’s treatment of the issue.Sharing a news report on the impact of pellet guns, Swara wrote, “Is this what you want to glorify Bollywood?! Pellet guns are not ‘limited damage’, they are gross human rights violations. And mainstream Kashmiris are not Pathans.” Kuch toh research kar lia karo yaar. And look at Goebbels while you’re at it!” he captioned the post, “Vivek Agnihotri-ification of Bollywood.”Ajay Devgn’s voiceover in the teaser, “Tell Pathans, Chauhan is coming,” also became a flashpoint online. Many viewers complained that the dialogue painted Muslims in a negative light while using the Rajput identity to create a larger political narrative.
release date
Directed by Neeraj Yadav, ‘Chauhan’ is backed by Jyoti Deshpande, Anand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma under the banner of Geo Studios and Color Yellow Productions. The action drama is slated to hit theaters on October 1, 2027.
