Padmavati row: Protesters block Chittorgarh
Jaipur, Nov 17 (IBNS): The agitation against the release of Deepika Padukone starrer 'Padmavati' intensified on Friday with protesters blocking the entrance to the Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan’s Chittor.
The protest extended to several places across the country with many taking to the streets in Rajasthan, Haryana, and even southern Tamil Nadu.
The protesters are demanding a ban on the Bollywood film.
Taking the controversy to a new low, a Karni Sena leader has threatened to chop off actor Deepika Padukone's nose as the latter reacted sharply to the ongoing controversy centred on the film recently.
In a video which had surfaced on Thursday, one of Karni Sena's leader said: "We will not hit Deepika but we will do what Laxman did to Surpanaka (chop off nose)."
"She is provoking us" the leader added.
A leader of another fringe group offered a bounty of Rs. 5 crore to people for Padukone's and Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's heads.
The controversy has erupted after several fringe groups alleged that Bhansali has distorted history in his upcoming film. The group has even said they will not allow the portrayal of Rani Padmini, to be played by Padukone in the film, in a wrong way.
Reacting sharply to the vandalisation of a Kota mall recently, Padukone said people have regressed as a nation. "It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed."
The actress even said nothing can stop the release of the film, drawing comments form the leaders of Karni Sena.
The Karni Sena members even organised a massive protest in Bengaluru on the same issue on Wednesday.
Padukone had earlier urged Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani to take legal actions after few protesters who had vandalised artist Karan K's Rangoli, which was inspired by film Padmavati.
The Supreme Court has recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a stay on the release of Bhansali’s film Padmavati.
The top court suggested that the Censor Board should take an independent view over the issue, saying it can’t substitute role of CBFC.
The petition said that the film wrongly depicts Rajput queen Padmavati and its release could hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community.
“The trailer of the film shows Rani Padmavati doing a Ghoomar dance. The depiction of Rani Padmavati in the said dance sequence is contrary to how the dance is performed traditionally. The queens never used to do Ghoomar and the thumkas (hip movement) themselves and the revelation of skin by actress Deepika Padukone, in her portrayal of Padmavati, has hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community,” the petition said.
Apart from Padukone, the film starres Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles.
Bahansali released a video statement on the film’s official Twitter account on last Thursday calling the film his tribute to the “sacrifice, valour and honour” of Rani Padmavati.
The film has evoked a massive controversy with various Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, threatening to disrupt its screening for what they alleged "distorting historical facts."
Bhansali once was slapped by some members of the Karni Sena, who vandalised the set early this year.
The set of the movie was again vandalised in Kolhapur, with the miscreants burning the costumes in March this year.
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