In a growing wave of fury and condemnation, prominent Christian organizations and community leaders have demanded immediate action against the upcoming Bollywood films Paramsundari and Baaghi 4, following the release of their teaser-trailers, which include scenes shot within church premises deemed vulgar, violent, and deeply offensive to the religious sentiments of India’s Christian community. The controversy has ignited a firestorm on social media and is now threatening to escalate into a full-fledged legal and public backlash against the filmmakers and institutions involved.
At the heart of the uproar is a scene from Paramsundari, an upcoming romantic drama directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor. In the trailer, which was released online to promote the film ahead of its August 29, 2025 release, the lead actors are seen engaging in flirtatious behavior and exchanging allegedly obscene dialogues inside a church — and alarmingly, right in front of the sacred altar. Religious leaders have labeled the sequence “indecent, filthy, and sacrilegious,” accusing the filmmakers of using a place of worship to stage a romantic subplot, thereby defiling the sanctity of the church.
The film’s narrative reportedly centers around a North-South Indian romance linked to Christian themes, a plotline that has left many in the community perplexed and offended. “It’s not only confusing but deeply concerning,” said Adv. Cyril Samuel Dara, a well-known church activist and Secretary of the Christian Reform United People Association. “What exactly are the intentions behind dragging the Church into this narrative? It reeks of poor taste and cultural insensitivity.”
Simultaneously, action thriller Baaghi 4, directed by A. Harsha and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, has also come under fire. The trailer features high-octane, hyper-violent sequences filmed inside the historic 168-year-old Afghan Church (St. John the Evangelist Church) in Colaba, Mumbai — a sacred and nationally recognized monument built on defense land. The film stars Tiger Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Bajwa, and Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu in her Hindi debut. However, its brutal action scenes — allegedly involving bloodshed and gunfire within the church — have sparked outrage over the desecration of a religious and cultural landmark.
Adding further fuel to the controversy is the involvement of the church authorities themselves. Multiple Christian organizations have expressed shock and dismay that permission was granted to use such a holy site for violent or vulgar cinematic purposes. “This isn’t just creative liberty — this is sacrilege,” said Adv. Dara. “We demand action against not only the filmmakers but also the Afghan Church authorities for renting out the sanctified premises for petty financial gains. This is about more than art — this is about dignity and religious respect.”
The response from the community has been swift and severe. A formal statement issued by Adv. Cyril Samuel Dara, representing multiple Christian welfare organizations including the Maharashtra Minority Christian Development Council and the United Christians of Mumbai, categorically demands the immediate removal of the offending scenes from both trailers and the films themselves. They have also called for the takedown of all such footage from social media platforms, failing which a complete ban on both movies has been proposed.
What began as a promotional rollout has now transformed into a looming cultural showdown — with legal action on the horizon. “We will not hesitate to pursue legal recourse if the sentiments of the Christian community continue to be trampled upon,” stated Adv. Dara. As calls for accountability intensify, all eyes are now on the filmmakers, streaming platforms, and censor boards — will they respond responsibly, or stoke the flames further?
Posted On:Wednesday, August 20, 2025