Shalini Pandey: She became restless after the ‘charan seva’ scene in ‘Maharaj’, did not want to stay in a closed room

These days, there is a lot of discussion about the film ‘Maharaj’ released on OTT. Apart from Jaideep Ahlawat and Sharvari Wagh, Shalini Pandey has also appeared in this YRF film. Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan has made his/her debut with this film, in which he/she has played the role of Karsandas Mulji. Shalini Pandey has appeared in the role of his/her fiancée in this film. Seeing Shalini in the film, people are comparing her to Alia Bhatt. People have even said that it seems as if Alia has dubbed for Shalini. Shalini has talked a bit about her film and told how stupid she felt her character when she first read about her character.

In this film, an attempt has been made to show the blind devotion of people, how people replace humans with God and then forget the difference between right and wrong. In this film, Jaideep Ahlawat is seen in the role of self-proclaimed religious guru Maharaj, who has played the role of a godman of the 1800s, who convinced people that he/she was the incarnation of God. Based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, Jaideep Ahlawat is playing the role of Jadunathji Brijratanji Maharaj (JJ), one of the heads of the Vallabhacharya sect, who, in the name of faith and devotion, has physical relations with the women of the houses of that city and this is called ‘Charan Seva’. The surprising thing is that both the men and women of that place consider this work as sacred and the house of the woman who goes to JJ for ‘Charan Seva’, sweets are made in their house that day. Shalini too is a blind follower of this established tradition and by the time she realises the truth it is too late.

Shalini said- the role of Kishori seemed foolish

While talking to Bollywood Hungama, Shalini said that she was very upset about this scene. Shalini said that when she first read it, she thought her character was stupid, but later she understood that it was not so. JJ had assured that ‘charan seva’ is sacred and that was the reason why society turned a blind eye to this. Shalini said, ‘When I did not do that charan seva scene with Maharaj, I did not realize what effect it was going to have. But when this scene happened, I suddenly came out and I told my team – I did not want to stay in a closed room, I need time, I need some fresh air, I am getting a little upset.’

his/her ideology is quite different in real life

Shalini told that she told director Siddharth P Malhotra and her co-star Jaideep about this scene and they understood her problem. Talking about this, Shalini said that her ideology in real life is quite different and when she first read about the character of Kishori, she found it very stupid.

“When you find out the truth, it breaks you.”

Playing the role of the teenager who is so innocent and sweet in the film, she said, ‘When I read it I thought she was stupid but then I realised she wasn’t stupid, she didn’t know any better. She was just brought up so much to believe in whatever she was doing. But when she does it, feels it and thinks about it, it breaks you. Then you realise she’s not stupid. I hope she knew what was happening to her.’