In the weeks since the trailer of Article 15 — showcasing Ayushmann Khurrana as a cop investigating a murder case that has its roots in caste divide — was launched, director Anubhav Sinha has found himself courting controversy. After the fringe outfit Parshuram Sena alleged that the film shows Brahmins in poor light, there have been reports of Sinha's effigies being burnt outside theatres in a bid to dissuade them from releasing the movie. In the latest development, Karni Sena too has threatened to stall the drama's release.

"Why would I make an anti-Brahmin film? People are smart enough to know that there were enough and more Brahmins associated with the making of the film to know [that it doesn't showcase them in bad light]," says the director, whose last release Mulk (2018) bravely shone a spotlight on the discrimination against Muslims in the country. Sinha is appalled that the Karni Sena — that had challenged the release of Padmaavat last year — and the like have complete disregard for the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) decisions.