Panipat Controversy: Afghan embassy expresses concern over the portrayal of Sanjay Dutt's character Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Idrees Zaman has raised with Indian envoy to Kabul Vinay Kumar the issue of Afghan sensitivities surrounding the upcoming Sanjay Dutt-starrer Panipat that focuses on emperor Ahmad Shah Abdali.

The Panipat movie was also the subject of Monday’s Wolesi Jirga meeting (lower House of the Afghan Parliament), with the MPs warning against any perceived insult to Afghan King Abdali in the film.

“Acting minister of foreign affairs H.E. Idrees Zaman met in his office with the Ambassador of the Republic of India to Kabul Vinay Kumar, this afternoon. The two sides, in this meeting, recalling the important historical ties, discussed ways to further strengthen relations between Afghanistan and India. The meeting focused on the theme of the upcoming Bollywood film ‘Panipat’ as well as the two countries’ stance in relation to this cinematic artwork,” according to a statement issued by the Afg .. 

Panipat is an upcoming historical war film directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar based on the third battle of Panipat with Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon in the cast scheduled for release on December 6. There are perceptions that the movie has insulted Ahmed Shah Abdali, prompting sharp reactions from many Afghan citizens.