"Padmavat", Cleared By Censor Board, Stays Banned In Rajasthan, Says Minister

New Delhi:  "Padmavat", cleared by the censor board and expected to hit the theatres on January 25, will not be screened in Rajasthan, said the state's home minister today. Gulab Chand Kataria said the film would not be released in Rajasthan as the orders of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje stand.

"The chief minister has banned the "Padmavat" release a long time back in Rajasthan. The film will not be shown here. Our department has received the letter on this and we will follow the order," Mr Kataria told reporters.

Rajasthan was among the first states to announce a ban on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus amid protests last year by Rajput groups objecting to the depiction of their legendary Queen Padmini and alleging distortion of history.

The movie was set for release on December 1 but was stalled by protests that spread to many states. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra also declared that they would not allow the film.

On December 28, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared the period film with a U/A Certificate, along with modifications, including a change in the title from "Padmawati" to "Padmavat" - the title of Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic, which is believed to be the source of the film - and a disclaimer that it doesn't claim historical accuracy.

After announcing the decision, censor board chief Prasoon Joshi said the producers and director of the film were "completely in agreement" with the proposed changes.

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The film stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

Before taking a decision, the censor board set up a special panel of historians and members of royal families from Rajasthan. But the Rajput Karni Sena, which led the protests against the film, is not convinced and has threatened to vandalise cinema halls that show the movie.