Padmaavat’s Khilji Reminded Me of Azam Khan: Jaya Prada

Jaya Prada likened the ‘arrogance’ of SP leader Azam Khan to that of Alauddin Khilji’s in the film.

Ranveer Singh plays Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat.

(Photo Courtesy: Viacom 18)

Actor turned politician Jaya Prada recently watched Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Padmaavat and made a curious remark. It seems that the film hit home for the former Member of Parliament, as she likened the character of Alauddin Khilji, a 13th century Sultan of Delhi, to Azam Khan, a member of the Samajwadi Party. She has also alleged that she was ‘harassed’ by him while she was contesting elections. The bitter rivalry between the two politicians isn’t new. It dates back to 2009, when Khan was accused by Prada of maligning her name during elections.

“When I was watching ‘Padmaavat’, Khilji’s character reminded me of Azam Khan ji, how he had harassed me during elections when I was contesting.”

Jaya Prada, Politician to ANI

Ranveer Singh played the part of Alauddin Khilji, while Deepika Padukone essayed the role of Rani Padmavati, and Shahid Kapoor reprised the role of Raja Ratan Sen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama - Padmaavat.

The film, initially named Padmavati, became the centre of controversy as it faced ugly protests in the country by members of Karni Sena and other fringe groups who claimed that the historical facts in the movie were “distorted”.