Vivek Oberoi meets with Election Commission over release of film PM Narendra Modi

Actor Vivek Oberoi, who plays Narendra Modi in the controversial biopic on the prime minister, met the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday over the film's release.

After the meeting, Oberoi said the poll panel watched the biopic on Wednesday, 17 April, and gave a "good response".

"I can't tell you their response, but we are happy after meeting them and getting their answer," he told reporters.

"We hope the movie is allowed to be released soon as there's no political agenda behind PM Modi's biopic," he added.

The Supreme Court had on Monday directed the EC to watch the film PM Narendra Modi and submit its report, after the movie's producers cried foul that the poll panel barred the film's release without even watching it.

The filmmakers had moved the apex court challenging the EC's order delaying its release. The Supreme Court has scheduled the matter for the next hearing on 22 April.

Last week, the EC issued an order barring the screening of political films during the Lok Sabha elections.

Directed by Omung Kumar B and starring Vivek Oberoi and Boman Irani, the film was slated to release on 11 April, the first day of polling for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier on 9 April, the apex court had rejected a plea filed by Congress leader Aman Panwar seeking stay on the release of the biopic. It had also refused to consider the issue whether the screening would tilt the balance in the favour of a particular political party.

The court had said let the EC decide the matter.