The screening was organised by the Nagrik Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti and all the invitees came to express their solidarity with the film and its director. At the end of the screening, Mehta spoke briefly to thank the organisers and the audience ``for sparing the time to come and see her film and express their solidarity for the people's right to choose what they want to see''.

Das, who left early after the screening, said: ``I went there as a citizen and not as an actress,'' but others in the audience came for several different reasons. Some were there simply because it was a chance to see a film that they may not have an opportunity to view again, others were there more to express their support for a film that suffered abuse at the hands of Shiv Sainiks.

But the response came at a price. Shiela was caught in a tight grip of security for as long as the film was being screened. Theatre owner Uday Kaushish says: ``We got a lot of police protection. The officiating Additional Commissioner of Police, the local SHO were all there along with a contingent of their men. Even the Deputy Commissioner of the area looked in.'' Mehta expressed her gratitude to them as well.