National Award-winning filmmaker and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted in Jaipur on the sets of his film, Padmavati by protestors belonging to the Karni Sena on Friday. The director was slapped, cursed at, and pulled by his hair while he was shooting at the Jaigarh fort during the Rajasthan schedule of his film starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. The protestors stormed the sets and also vandalised film equipment.
The main objection of the protestors was over the alleged fact that the film shows the legendary queen Padmavati in bad light. Bhansali's film is a historical drama based on the story of Queen Padmini of Chittor who refused to submit to the advances of Allaudin Khilji during his invasion of Chittor. The protestors have alleged that there are love scenes between Rani Padmini, played by adukone, and Allauddin Khilji, played by Singh, in the film. It is not known whether Padukone or Singh were present at the sets during the scuffle.
The last time the industry had united together to oppose the increasing censorship of Udta Punjab (2016). It will be interesting to see if a similar protest erupts now.