Padmavati controversy: Haryana govt to ask Censor Board to ban film nationwide, says minister Anil Vij

"Rani Padmavati is the symbol of Indian women pride. The character assassination of Padmavati will not be tolerated at any level," Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
New Delhi and Ambala, November 11, 2017 | UPDATED 21:20 IST

Highlights

  • 1
    Bhansali wrongly presented historical facts to defame Rani Padmavati's image: Vij
  • 2
    This hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people: Vij
  • 3
    The character assassination of Padmavati will not be tolerated at any level: Vij

Haryana Health minister Anil Vij said the state government will approach the Censor Board to seek a nationwide ban on the upcoming Bollywood movie Padmavati.

The film, which stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini and Ranveer Singh as  Alauddin Khilji, has been at the centre of a storm ever since rumours began doing the rounds that there would be a romantic dream sequence the two characters.

Anil Vij said the film's producer and director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, wrongly presented historical facts to "defame" the image of Rani Padmavati, and that this hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people.

"Rani Padmavati is the symbol of Indian women pride. The character assassination of Padmavati will not be tolerated at any level," he said.

'NO DREAM SEQUENCE'

On Wednesday, Sanjay Leela Bhansali released a video in which he reiterated that there is no dream sequence. His production house twice denied that the film had such scenes - one of those clarifications came after Bhansali was attacked on the sets of the film.

Deepika Padukone has said there was "no distortion of history," and her co-star Ranveer Singh has said the Padmavati team was "keeping in mind the sensitivities and emotions of the people of Rajasthan and the Rajput community."

Bhansali "won't ever do anything to hurt anyones feelings," Ranveer said.

The Padmavati trailer conatined no hints of a dream sequence.

But the film has faced an unrelenting onslaught of scrutiny, criticism, and violent attacks.

In January this year, members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena vandalised the sets of Padmavati in Jaipur, and tore Bhansali's clothes. In a second assault, goons torched Padmavati's sets in Kolhapur a few months later. In October, five people, including four members of the Karni Sena and one from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), were arrested for allegedly vandalising a rangoli inspired by Padmavati.

Padmavati is scheduld to open in theatres on December 1.

(Inputs from PTI)