Lucknow: Trouble continues to brew for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Padmavati, the first look of which was recently unveiled.
Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have threatened to not let the film release as it “distorts” certain historical facts.
VHP and Bajrang Dal members in Meerut burnt an effigy of Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Tuesday to register their protest.
Balraj Dungar, UP convenor of Bajrang Dal, said, “Sanjay Leela Bhansali has tampered with historical facts and has shown Padmavati in wrong light. By doing so, he has proved that he has no links with the Hindu religion and the feelings of Hindus. His only motive is to earn money, even if his film hurts people’s sentiments”.
Earlier, Karni Sena, a Rajput outfit, had protested against the film shooting in Rajasthan. The outfit had demanded that the movie should be first shown to the Rajput community before it is officially released in theatres.
Meanwhile, another Rajput outfit, Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, also burnt an effigy of Mr Bhansali in Meerut and claimed that they would not allow the film’s screening until they are allowed to watch the film and make required cuts.
‘Padmavati’ is based on the 14th century siege of Chittor fort, when Alauddin Khilji attacked Rajasthan in a bid to capture Rani Padmini who was known for her beauty.
However, legend has it that before Khilji’s troops could reach the fort, Rani Padmini along with hundred other Rajput women committed Jjauhar; an ancient Hindu custom of self-immolation that was performed to avoid rape or imprisonment by the enemy forces and acquired a cult status.
Gopal Sharma, VHP’s Meerut Mahanagar secretary, said, “The screening of the movie should be stopped. Also, a case should be filed against Sanjay Leela Bhansali for hurting Hindu sentiments and he should be arrested”.
The VHP said that if the film cannot be banned, the authorities should at least introduce cuts before it is released.
