Sanjay Leela Bhansali Attacked For Degrading Queen In ‘Padmavati’

Jaipur: Popular Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was attacked by mobs alleging that he is misrepresenting facts about the much revered Padmavati queen in his upcoming movie.

In view of the trouble, the filmmaker decided not to shoot the movie here, police said. While the shooting of the film, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, was underway, activists of Karni Sena assembled at the Jaigarh Fort and held a demonstration. Some of them also tried to vandalise the set.

The protesters slapped Bansali and pulled his hair on the sets of his film "Padmavati" at a fort in Jaipur in Rajasthan on Friday. The protesters alleged that the film shows a much-celebrated Rajput queen in poor light. The Karni Sena said Padmini was a proud queen known for taking her own life rather than submit to Alauddin Khilji, the emperor who attacked the Chittorgarh Fort. Padmini committed "Jauhar" or immolated herself with scores of other women as Alauddin Khilji waited to conquer the fort and claim her.

They shouted protests and alleged that the film has love scenes between Queen Padmini and ruler Alauddin Khilji, respectively played by actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. In the movie, Deepika is playing 'Padmavati' and Ranveer 'Alaudin Khilji'. "We had warned the filmmaker against presenting wrong facts. When we came to know about the shooting, we gathered there and protested," said district president of Karni sena Narayan Singh. Another activist Vikram Singh said the film is presenting wrong facts about Padmavati.

"Our basic protest is about distortion of historic facts which will not be tolerated," he said. He alleged that a security guard opened fire in the air which created panic. However, police denied the allegation. After the shooting was stalled, Bhansali and his team members talked to the Karni Sena and assured them that their demands would be looked into.

"The filmmakers have assured that they will not shoot here and will pack up," DCP North Anshuman Bhomia said. He said that there was no report of firing and no FIR has been lodged by any party so far.