The film portrays MP Ziaur Rahman Burq and late leader Shafiqur Rahman Barq as villains, although their names are fictitious
NEW DELHI – Kalki Sambhal, a film based on the 1978 and 2024 riots rocking the town of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, is the latest in a series of Islamophobic pictures churned out by the entertainment industry, especially after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014. These pictures tend to stigmatise the Muslim community, portraying them as villains, terrorists, or extremists
The first poster for Kalki Sambhal, a film by the known Islamophobic producer Amit Jani, was released on Monday evening. It depicts the film’s two main villains, “Abbajaan” and “Bhaijaan,” with the former alluding to late Lok Sabha MP Shafiqur Rahman Burq, instigating the rioters for political gain in 1978. Social media is also speculating that the other villain, “Bhaijaan,” is the current Samajwadi Party member of the Lok Sabha, Ziaur Rahman Burq. He is also depicted as the one behind the violence, which engulfed Sambhal in 2024, resulting in the deaths of five Muslim youth allegedly in police firing.
Renowned film actor Mahesh Manjrekar portrays the senior Burq (Abbajaan), and Vijay Raaz plays Bhaijaan. Sambhal’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Vishnoi is portrayed as Arjun Bishnoi.
Amit Jani has been accused of making anti-Islam and anti-Muslim films. He previously made a film titled Udaipur Files, which drew objections from the Muslim community and sparked a hue and cry in different quarters. A petition was filed in court to stop the release of Udaipur Files, but the court refused. However, the film was released only after some controversial parts were removed.
The film industry has faced a lot of criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes about Muslims. This trend has been observed in several films, including Fanaa (2006), Kurbaan (2009), and New York (2009), which depict Muslim characters in a stereotypical and often inaccurate manner. Such portrayals contribute to a broader societal narrative that associates Muslims with terrorism and violence.
Recent films like The Kashmir Files (2022), The Kerala Story (2023), and Dhulandar (2025) have sparked controversy for their depiction of Muslims, with some critics accusing them of promoting Islamophobia and communal tensions. These films often rely on tropes and stereotypes, reinforcing harmful narratives about Muslims and contributing to a polarised social environment. The impact of these portrayals extends beyond the screen, influencing public perception and potentially exacerbating tensions between communities
However, some films challenge these stereotypes and showcase Muslims as ordinary people with everyday concerns and aspirations. Some examples of movies that promote positive representation of Muslims include The Great Shamsuddin Family and Single Salma (both 2025), which depict Muslim women as educated, independent, and strong-willed individuals.
Similarly, the film Bombay is a love story between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman set against the backdrop of the 1992 riots. Also, Jodha Akbar, a historical romance that showcases the love between a Mughal emperor and a Rajput princess, and My Name is Khan, a film about a Muslim man with Asperger’s syndrome who sets out to clear his name after being wrongly accused of terrorism.
