The furore over yet to be released ‘Padmavati’ movie has refused to die down.
After a ban on Sanjay leela Bhansali-directed ‘Padmavati’ by Madhya Pradesh Government, the Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana is also likely to announce a ban on the upcoming epic period drama.
As protests are being held in various parts of Haryana against the release of the movie, the cabinet meeting to be held on Wednesday will discuss the issue.
Haryana Cabinet Ministers and other state BJP leaders have already demanded a ban on the movie.
Senior Minister Anil Vij, while talking to the mediapersons on Tuesday said, “I will demand a ban on the movie in the state. I will raise the issue of movie Padmavati in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.”
The movie is a distortion of historical facts and should not be released in the state, he said.
Vij had earlier demanded a nationwide ban on the movie.
Recently, another Cabinet Minister Vipul Goel had written to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani requesting her to ensure that there is no distortion of historical facts in the movie, if it is allowed to be released on December 1.
Goel had said that people in Haryana are protesting against the release of the movie and such protests are also held in various states. The movie has hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community and others. The movie glorifies the invader Alauddin Khilji, he had said.
Just two days back, Haryana state party’s chief media coordinator Suraj Pal Amu had offered Rs 10 crore reward for beheading Padmavati’s director Sanjay leela Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone.
Amu had said, “How can we allow somebody to distort history and mislead the people by projecting the heroic character of Rani Padmavati in a poor light while glorifying the villains of history. We will not allow the release of this film at any cost.”
Sanjay leela Bhansali’s film had kicked up a controversy as Rajput and other communities have accused the filmmaker of distorting the history. ‘Padmavati’ was slated for release on December 1, however, the release date of the movie has been delayed amid protests in various parts of the country.
The film, which stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, had been at the centre of a storm ever since rumours began doing the rounds that there would be a romantic dream sequence between the two characters.
In BJP ruled states, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already announced that the film will not be allowed to release in the state while Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has said that it will not be released in the state till necessary changes as per the suggestions given to the Centre were incorporated in the movie.