Karni Sena threatens to burn Bhansali; Smriti Irani assures Padmavati won’t face trouble

The Rajput Karni Sena, a pro-Rajput group, has threatened to severely harm filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali if he ‘tarnishes’ the image of queen Padmavati in his upcoming film Padmavati. The trailer was released earlier today.

Speaking to news channels yesterday, Mahipal Singh, a senior member of the fringe group, said, “If they ignore us [not show us the film first] and portray queen Padmavati by tarnishing the image of Rajput and Hinduvadi (pro-Hindu) groups, thousands of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis and thousands of filmmakers and theatres will burn. He had only faced slaps last time. This time he won’t have any idea what he will face.”

He added, “If they feel we are weak in Gujarat, our power in the state is such that lakhs of people from the Rajput and Hinduvadi groups would instantly assemble if we make just one announcement.”

Lokendra Singh Kavi, the chief of the group, expressed his displeasure at Bhansali and called him ‘foolish.’

“This is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s foolishness that every time he does something like this [distorting history]. The Marathas were not happy with Bajirao Mastani (2015). The people of Gujarat were distracted with [Goliyon Ki Raas Leela] Ram-Leela (2013). He has been attacked with shoes with Padmavati and then there was fire in Kolhapur [on the film’s sets]. Why? All of us can’t be wrong,” he said.

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

On the same day, information & broadcasting minister Smriti Irani assured that Padmavati won’t face any hurdle when it is released on 1 December. She said this while answering a question at the World Economic Forum in Mumbai.

“I am sure law and order will be under control. The state government will ensure no miscreants disrupt any kind of interaction or display. I don’t envisage any problem. If there is any challenge, the state government will meet it,” said Irani.

Bhansali was assaulted on the film’s set earlier this year by the members of the Rajput Karni Sena for allegedly showing queen Padmavati in bad light. Later on, some miscreants had torched the film’s set in Kolhapur.

Padmavati is based on queen Padmavati of Mewar. The film stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

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Here's a video of the members of Karni Sena issuing threats: