Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Vandalism against Padmavati pains me deeply

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film, Padmavati has been facing serious obstacles ever since the start of the year. In January, a group of goons from the Rajput Karni Sena barged onto the sets of the film in Jaipur and assaulted the filmmaker as they felt the film hurts the sentiments of the Rajputs by portraying queen Padmavati in a ‘derogatory’ manner. 

The pro-Rajput group felt that the film contains a romantic or ‘objectionable’ sequence between Padmavati and Mughal leader, Alauddin Khilji. Following this, Bhansali’s production, in a letter to the pro-Rajput groups, explained that there isn’t any such scene. Although the matter was settled, the sets of the film were set ablaze in Kolhapur earlier in the month which incurred heavy loses for the production. 

Now, Bhansali has finally broken his silence over the matter. While talking to a daily, he expressed how the entire issue has hurt him. “The vandalism against the film pains me deeply. This violence is unjustified and not acceptable as it is merely based on hearsay, allegations and accusations, and not on facts. As an artist, I too believe in the freedom of expression, but I’m also aware of the responsibility that comes along with this freedom,” he said. 

Bhansali also stated that his team had done enough research on the subject and repeated that there is not even a dream sequence between Padmavati and Khilji. “My team and I have carefully researched every aspect of information available on Rani Padmavati for making the film. There was never any alleged romantic scene, dream sequence or imaginary song between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji in the script. I repeat, there NEVER was and NOR is there any such scene between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji,” added Bhansali. 

Bhansali's Padmavati not first nor last to blur line between fact and fiction

The Bajirao Mastani filmmaker also feels that the film will not only make the Rajputs, but every Indian proud. "Padmavati is a film about a revered Rajput Queen and her valiant fight for honour and dignity. It’s a film that every Indian will be proud of,” he said.

Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in the roles of Padmavati, Alauddin Khilji and Raja Ratan Singh, respectively.