She wrote "I felt reduced to a vagina only" where she accused Bhansali of glorifying 'Jauhar' and 'Sati pratha'.
With this letter, Bhansali supporters took to social media to show their discontent.[Swara Bhaskar on ‘Padmaavat’: Felt reduced to a vagina only! READ her open letter inside
If you write same letter on "Triple Talak" and "Halala".. Then it will be very educative. By the way story is about 700 years ago and Sati pratha is not exist in Society now , it's banned and also one thing during Johar what Rani padmini thinks , we can not predict her situation.
— Bhupendra Bhoi (@bvbhoi) January 28, 2018
While some users questioned her choice of films based on her belief system, others pointed out that it is not a filmmaker's duty to send social messages through films.
In her open letter published on The Wire, Swara had questioned whether women - widowed, old, young, raped, pregnant, and pre-pubescent - have the right to live.
While she had started her message on a congratulatory note for the performances and grandeur, Swara moved on to criticising Bhansali for making her feel "like a vagina only" after watching 'Padmaavat'.
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Swara had twitted the link to her open letter where she praised the actors and film's beauty.
She had written, "I felt like all the 'minor' achievements that women and women's movements have made over the years - like the right to vote, the right to own property, the right to education, equal pay for equal work, maternity leave, the Vishakha judgment, the right to adopt children... All of it was pointless; because we were back to basics".
She had questioned the "uncomfortable" climax scene where Rani Padmavati, portrayed by Deepika Padukone, self-immolates herself along with a group of other women after attackers barge into their kingdom after winning over their men, albeit unethically.
She had concluded the letter with addressing Bhansali and writing, "Your cinema particularly is inspiring, evocative and powerful. It can move audiences to emotional highs and lows. It can influence thinking and that, sir, is why you must be responsible as to what it is you are doing and saying in your film".
She had signed off her letter as "Swara Bhaskar, Desirous of Life".