'Boycott Netflix' trends before the release of Junaid Khan's Maharaj

Maharaj, starring Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat was all set to release on Netflix on June 14, but recent controversies has caused a delay in the release. Hashtags like 'Boycott Netflix' and 'Ban Maharaj Film’ have been trending on social media platform X. On Thursday, a day before the film was released, the Gujarat High Court restrained Netflix from releasing it.

The film is set in the pre-independence era and highlights the life of Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer in pre-independent India who fought for women’s rights and challenged societal norms. The film revolves around the Maharaj Libel Case of 1861. In a series of articles published that year, Mulji exposed misconducts within the Pushtimarg Vaishnava sect, which targeted its religious leaders, referred as the Maharajs. The articles accused these Maharajs of engaging in illicit activities under the pretence of religious rituals, including sexual abuse of female devotees.

The plea in the Gujarat High Court claimed that the movie would incite violence against followers of a Hindu sect. VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi took to her X account and said, Won’t tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma. Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix.”

Another user wrote, “The poster for Maharaj shows a tilak-sporting, tuft-bearing man on one side, while there is a sharply dressed young man (Amir Khan’s son Junaid). Anti-Hindu web-series and movies have been shown on Netflix in the past as well. #BoycottNetflix Ban Maharaj Film”.

One user even posted, “The poster for Maharaj shows a tilak-sporting, tuft-bearing man on one side, while there is a sharply dressed young man (Amir Khan’s son Junaid) As always Anti-Hindu web-series and movies have been shown on Netflix in the past as well (sic).”

The court also issued notices to Netflix and Yash Raj Films, producer of the film. The next hearing of the plea is on June 18.