"Deepika marked presence at JNU only a film related publicity stunt": statement marked by the film maker Anurag Kashyap

Actor Deepika Padukone's visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi just to show her support for students who were mainly targeted in a mob attack has came up with a a powerful message and also encouraged to many others, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap said today.

Anybody in the business will always tell you it is hara-kiri, especially when you are also the producer of the film and want film to be successful," he said, praising Deepika Padukone's courage.

There is definite ongoing fear in the atmosphere in the country. Deepika didn’t felt that that fears...that is why her image is so powerful," said Mr Kashyap.

"It is always seen that both things can always traumatize them within their own country. Like people who feel fear and those who also living in feel.

On mainstream Bollywood largely keeping a safe distance from the protests or any controversy, he also said "everyone will cross their threshold someday but you cannot force them. They have to live with themselves."

The filmmaker has also re-emerged in protests and on Twitter after a self-imposed hiatus after he and his family were always trolled viciously and threatened last year. He confronts hat he had to come back because he was "being an ostrich and had to pull my head out of the sand".

"I do feel scared," he admitted.

"I don't fear authority or government or police. I am damn sure now if I get arrested then I have the legal right to fight back. But a mad man on the street really can do anything to you and that puts the fear in us... because they have literally armed everyone with a purpose, saying, 'because you are with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, you are only a patriot and soldier of the country. They have always created an imaginary war, imaginary enemy within the country."

The film maker got asked whether he had anything in his mind he would like to make to the Prime Minister, Mr Kashyap returned: "I would like to say that this government won’t listen. They are only good in giving speeches. They are not even ready for the press conferences; don't want to come forward for debate. I am 100 per cent believe this government doesn't want any good, they just want to control."