NCP workers led by former cabinet minister Jitendra Awhad staged a protest and disrupted the late night show of Har Har Mahadev at a multiplex in Thane on 7th November. They claimed that the film had distorted facts and depicted historical characters in poor light.
The mob got into arguments with some people among the audience, who protested against the disruption. However, Awhad intervened before the fight between the mob and a businessman (among the audience) could turn ugly. No police case was registered. The Thane police arrived on the scene after the show was disrupted. Later, Thane and Palghar district MNS chief Avinash Jadhav, unmindful of the resistance from the NCP, resumed the show.
The security at the cinema has been beefed up after the incident. An offence may be filed for obstructing the film screening.
Sambhaji Chhatrapati, former Rajya Sabha MP and a descendant of Shivaji, had recently expressed displeasure over the alleged distortion of history of Shivaji Maharaj. He had warned that if any of the upcoming films based on the warrior king was distorted, he would oppose it and stall its release in cinemas.