The Rajasthan Rajput group Karni Sena is now demanding that Sanjay Leela Bhansali rename the historical drama Padmavati. Further, they also want the film to be screened before a committee formed by them prior to its theatrical release. Meanwhile, the Padmavati team has stated that there is no romantic dream sequence involving queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji.
Last Friday, Bhansali was assaulted by a group of Karni Sena members who stormed into the sets at Jaigarh fort in Jaipur. The Sena members vandalised the sets and tore Bhansali’s shirt. They were eventually stopped by security members who fired shots into the air.
The group, which has previously targeted Ekta Kapoor and Zee News over Jodha Akbar in the past, said they had a problem with the alleged distortion of facts in the period drama. According to them, Bhansali was showing queen Padmavati in a poor light by depicting her as romantically involved with Alauddin Khilji.
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Shobha Sant, CEO of Bhansali Films had written a letter to Giriraj Singh Lotwara, president of the Rajput Sabha, stating that the team had no intention of hurting the sentiments of the community. The letter said, “We have been careful in our research in the making of the film. This is to clarify that there is no romantic dream sequence or any objectionable or romantic scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji.”
The attack on the director has revived debates on intolerance and film on social media platforms. Many celebrities have condemned the attack as well. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput dropped his surname for a day in his Twitter account as a sign of protest.
Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone as queen Padmavati, Alauddin Khilji, her arch-rival, will be portrayed by Ranveer Singh while Shahid Kapoor plays her husband Rawal Ratan Singh.
With inputs from PTI