IANS

Famous Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowarikar's ambitious project "Jodha-Akbar" has run into a new problem with a semi-government organisation serving notice to his production company on cruelty to animals.

"'Pashu Krurta Nivaran Samiti' (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), a semi-government organisation has sent notice to Gowarikar's production company for committing cruelty against animals," an official of animal husbandry department told IANS here Friday.

For the past fortnight, the producer has been filming a sequence for the film on various locations in and around Jaipur. The film features Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan in title roles. Over 80 elephants, 100 horses and 55 camels are being used.

The society has asked Gowarikar whether any permission was taken from the Animal Welfare Board and why he should not be tried for violation of Cruelty Against Animal Act.

"A large number of these animals were subjected to great hardships during the shooting and there was no facility of a veterinary doctor during the shooting," said Manish Saxena, a member of the society.

He said it was mandatory to seek permission of the national board for using the animals.

Saxena said permission for such use of animals is granted on certain conditions relating to animals' welfare.

"The department of animal husbandry shall see that the issues raised by the society are addressed by the film maker," Prabhu Lal Saini, Rajasthan's animal husbandry minister told IANS.

The film also faces resistance from the Rajputs. Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, has alleged that Gowarikar is allegedly "tampering" with history and threatened to move court to stop filming of the film.

The Sena said it would request the state government to tell Gowarikar that he should change the title of the film and not associate the community with the film.