(IN): Jodha Akbar in beastly tangle

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Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1126620

 

Jodha Akbar in beastly tangle

Baljeet Parmar

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 08:53 IST

 

MUMBAI: These are not the easiest of times for filmmaker, Ashutosh

Gowariker, whose mega project Jodha Akbar is facing yet another stumbling

block. The Chennai-based Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has now asked

for some documents and other clarifications before it decides to grant

permission for the use of elephants and horses.

 

According to sources, the shooting that was to resume today has now been

deferred to October 24. Gowariker could not be contacted.

 

The movie with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwaraya Rai in the lead roles had

earlier faced problems during its shooting near Jaipur when animal lovers

filed a suit alleging cruelty to elephants. The Jaipur court is scheduled to

give its interim order today.

 

The legal wrangle prompted Gowariker to shelve the shooting in Rajasthan and

move to Karjat near Mumbai. A massive Rs50 crore set resembling a typical

Rajasthan castle was put up here.

 

Elephants and horses were needed for the shoot and the producers, therefore,

sought the go-ahead from AWBI. Its secretary, K Ramaswami told DNA that the

producers had not submitted documents relating to the ownership proof of

animals as well as the kind of work that they are supposed to perform.

 

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) objected to the long

distance that the animals would have to travel from Jaipur to reach Karjat.

" The government has banned animal performances in circuses and it is no

different in the case of films too, " said Anuradha Sawhney, PETA

functionary. The organisation asked the AWBI to put and end to the

possibility of further torture and cruelty.

 

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