📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Suyash Dwivedi
Entertainment
Manoj Joshi Says Government Halted His Chanakya TV Series
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 24 Sep 2026, 06:32 AM
👁 11
Actor Manoj Joshi told a media outlet that the government intervened to stop the broadcast of his historical drama on Chanakya, calling recent criticism a misuse of free speech.
Veteran actor Manoj Joshi, best known for his roles in Indian television and cinema, opened up about a recent controversy surrounding his upcoming historical series on the ancient strategist Chanakya. In a candid interview, Joshi claimed that government officials intervened and ordered the suspension of the serial's telecast, citing unspecified concerns.
Joshi asserted that the decision was not based on any legal violation but appeared to be a response to political pressure. He emphasized that the series aimed to present a nuanced portrayal of Chanakya’s life and philosophy, and that halting it undermines creative freedom.
The actor also criticized what he described as “mud‑slinging” by certain quarters, arguing that such attacks are not protected under the banner of free speech. He called for a transparent review of the decision and urged broadcasters to resist undue interference.
No official statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been released yet, and the production house has not confirmed a new launch date. The controversy has sparked debate among media analysts about the balance between governmental oversight and artistic expression in Indian television.
The episode’s fate remains uncertain, but Joshi’s remarks have drawn attention to broader concerns about censorship and the role of historical narratives in contemporary discourse.
Joshi asserted that the decision was not based on any legal violation but appeared to be a response to political pressure. He emphasized that the series aimed to present a nuanced portrayal of Chanakya’s life and philosophy, and that halting it undermines creative freedom.
The actor also criticized what he described as “mud‑slinging” by certain quarters, arguing that such attacks are not protected under the banner of free speech. He called for a transparent review of the decision and urged broadcasters to resist undue interference.
No official statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been released yet, and the production house has not confirmed a new launch date. The controversy has sparked debate among media analysts about the balance between governmental oversight and artistic expression in Indian television.
The episode’s fate remains uncertain, but Joshi’s remarks have drawn attention to broader concerns about censorship and the role of historical narratives in contemporary discourse.