Padmaavat row: Karni Sena open to watching Bhansali’s period drama

READ | Delhi police beefs up security to ensure peaceful screening of Padmaavat

Despite the film being cleared by the censor board, it was banned by governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. However, the ban was lifted by the Supreme Court, paving way for the film’s release nationwide. Earlier in the day, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments moved the apex court for a recall of its January 18 order allowing the nationwide release of ‘Padmaavat’.

Meanwhile, protesters opposed to the release of the movie Padmaavat burned three buses and damaged the window panes of at least six more buses in different parts of Mehsana district. Meanwhile, in Bhilwara, a youth climbed a 350 feet tall mobile tower with a bottle of petrol protesting against Padmaavat. He got down from the tower after local administration gave him assurance that no case will be registered against him.

The film has been in controversy ever since the declaration of its star cast. The Karni Sena and Rajput royal family has had reservations regarding the portrayal of Rani Padmavati played by Deepika Padukone in the film.

In spite of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s on-record clarifications, the Karni Sena has been speculating about the possibility of intimate scenes in a dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Sultan Alauddin Khilji essayed by Ranveer Singh. The producers have denied the claims stating there’s not even a single frame where Rani Padmavati and Khilji appear on-screen. Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi has threatened a nation-wide mutiny if the film gets released. The Karni Sena has also threatened that it would not allow CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi to enter Rajasthan since the latter gave clearance to Padmaavat.

Meanwhile, security have been beefed up across theatres in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana owing to threats of vandalism by groups opposing to screening of the movie.