In a new blow to Ekta Kapoor’s web series XXX, an arrest warrant was issued in Bihar’s Begusarai district following a complaint lodged against the TV tycoon for insulting soldiers in their hit web series XXX through the second season that was released in 2020.
Ekta’s mother Shobha Kapoor was also dragged into the dispute as she is associated with her daughter’s company Balaji Telefilms.
The web series XXX aired on the OTT platform AltBalaji, owned by Ekta Kapoor’s TV company Balaji Telefilms. The erotic comedy-drama delved into the sexual lives of its protagonists, with each episode featuring a different story. The series was meant to be a refreshing take on erotica and sexual relationships. The first season was aired in 2018 while the second season premiered in January 2020.
Why were netizens unhappy with the web series??
Netizens all over the country were miffed for portraying the Indian Army in a bad light. According to the Hindustan Times, an FIR was launched against the producer in 2020, in Indore for allegedly insulting the national emblem, Hindu gods,, and army personnel in her series XXX season 2.
The objection was around the first episode of the erotic show’s second season wherein it showed a woman indulging in an extramarital affair while her husband, an army soldier, was out on duty at the border.
Outrage poured in on Twitter with ‘AltBalaji Insults Army’ trending on the platform, as netizens rallied to boycott the filmmaker.
A few days later, the filmmaker was again slapped with various other FIRs against her for objectifying the armed forces and hurting the sentiments of the soldier’s families, the most notable ones being ex-Bigg Boss contestant Hindustani Babu who alleged that the Kapoors were “targeting our Indian military, their uniform and defaming its national emblem.”
Later, sources also revealed that the controversial scene had been removed and the filmmaker apologized on video in 2020 regarding the issue.
What led to the issue of the warrants?
According to verified sources, Shambhu Kumar, an ex-serviceman, and a Begusarai resident had filed the complaint, based on which the court decided to proceed in issuing the arrest warrants.
“Warrants issued for failure to appear in court”- Shambhu’s lawyer Hrishikesh Pathak noted, asserting that the Kapoor’s failed to appear before the court, despite receiving the summons.
In an interview with PTI, Kumar’s lawyer Pathak added that summons had been issued and the court asked the Kapoors to appear before it in connection with the matter.
“They (Ekta and Shobha Kapoor), however, informed the court that certain scenes in the series were removed after the objection. But they did not appear before the court following which the warrant was issued against them,” Pathak concluded.
