The release of Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi on September 19, 2025, has ignited a fiery clash between cinematic ambition and religious conservatism in India. This Bollywood biopic, chronicling Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s transformation from a Hindu monk to a political powerhouse, has drawn sharp criticism from a prominent Muslim cleric who deems its viewing “forbidden” under Sharia law. The controversy underscores deeper tensions over religious depictions in media, free speech, and political hagiography, pitting faith-based objections against calls for widespread celebration of the film as inspirational fare.
Directed by Ravindra Gautam and starring Anant Joshi in the titular role, the movie—produced by Samrat Cinematics India Private Limited—adapts author Shantanu Gupta’s book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. It portrays Adityanath’s life as a tale of integrity, unity, and resilience, earning enthusiastic openings in theaters across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Yet, the film’s timing, just months before state elections, has amplified its polarizing potential.
The Sharia Objection: A Fatwa Against Filmmaking
The storm broke before the premiere when Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, issued a public fatwa protesting the biopic. In a statement to media outlets, Razvi declared that “in Islam, both watching and showing films is illegal and forbidden,” framing the movie as a violation of Sharia principles against visual representations of religious or political figures. He urged the Muslim community to boycott screenings, arguing the film promotes a narrative that could incite communal discord given Adityanath’s history of polarizing rhetoric on issues like “love jihad” and Hindu nationalism.
Razvi’s stance revives longstanding Islamic debates on visual media, rooted in interpretations of hadiths prohibiting idolatry (shirk). Conservative scholars, including those from the Barelvi school, often extend this to films, viewing them as frivolous or morally corrupting. The fatwa echoes past controversies, such as protests against Bollywood depictions of Prophet Muhammad or historical Muslim figures, but ties directly to Adityanath’s persona—known for anti-Muslim statements, including accusations that Congress aims to impose “Sharia law” in India.
This isn’t isolated; Razvi has previously fatwa’d against films glorifying figures seen as antagonistic to Muslim interests, positioning the objection as both doctrinal and socio-political.
Pre-Release Hurdles: CBFC Delays and Court Intervention
The biopic’s path to screens was rocky even before the fatwa. Producers petitioned the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in July 2025, only to face unexplained delays. Filmmakers alleged political bias, claiming the board—under pressure from opposition voices—scrutinized content for potential communal incitement. The Bombay High Court intervened on August 23, 2025, slamming the CBFC for overstepping constitutional bounds on free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
Justice S.V. Kotwal ordered a personal viewing, ruling: “The CBFC must understand the limits set by the Constitution and the law.” Certification followed swiftly, allowing the September 19 release. The court’s rebuke highlighted ongoing tensions between censorship and expression, especially for biopics of sitting politicians like Adityanath, whose saffron-robed image evokes both reverence and revulsion.
Political Backlash: Akhilesh Yadav’s Critique and Supporter Demands
Opposition leaders wasted no time weaponizing the film. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath’s arch-rival, mocked it on September 20, questioning if it truthfully depicts controversies like the 2017 withdrawal of criminal cases against Adityanath (related to a 1995 prohibited meeting in Gorakhpur). “Will the film show beeps for sensitive dialogues, or the real story of case withdrawals?” Yadav quipped, implying whitewashing of Adityanath’s past, including charges of rioting and promoting enmity.
In contrast, Hindu nationalist groups rallied behind the film. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, president of Sanskriti Bachao Manch and Hindu Utsav Samiti, demanded tax-free status in Madhya Pradesh, appealing to CM Mohan Yadav: “Every Sanatan Dharma follower must watch this with family—it’s a beacon for youth.” Tiwari dismissed Razvi’s fatwa as a “publicity stunt,” retorting: “Why protest Yogi’s film but not Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan movies?” This echoes Adityanath’s own history of invoking Sharia in political attacks, such as his 2024 claims that Congress seeks to impose Islamic personal law over the Constitution.
Social media amplified the divide: X posts under #YogiBiopic trended with 50,000 engagements, split between boycott calls from Muslim users (“Sharia forbids glorifying Hindu extremists”) and defenses from BJP supporters (“Fatwa won’t silence inspiration”).
Broader Context: Adityanath’s Polarizing Legacy
Yogi Adityanath, born Ajay Mohan Singh Bisht in 1972, embodies Hindutva’s fusion of spirituality and politics. As head priest of Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath Math since 2014 and UP’s CM since 2017, he’s credited with curbing crime and boosting infrastructure but lambasted for anti-minority policies. His past includes inflammatory remarks—like claiming Muslims “did no favor” by staying post-Partition—and faces multiple charges, though many were quashed.
The biopic arrives amid BJP’s cultural offensive, following successes like The Kerala Story. For U.S. audiences, it mirrors debates over films like The Passion of the Christ—where faith clashes with artistic freedom—highlighting India’s secular tensions in a global media age.
Conclusion: A Cinematic Fault Line in India’s Cultural Wars
The Sharia debate over Ajey exposes fault lines between religious orthodoxy and modern expression, with Razvi’s fatwa clashing against the film’s nationalist fervor. As box-office numbers climb (Rs 5 crore opening day), it risks deepening communal rifts or, as producers hope, inspiring unity. For now, the silver screen serves as India’s latest battleground for faith versus film—where Sharia’s shadow meets saffron’s spotlight. With Yogi Adityanath biopic controversy, Sharia fatwa Yogi film, Ajey The Untold Story of a Yogi, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi protest, and CBFC certification debate fueling discourse, the reel fight is far from over.