Padmavati Will Not Release In Gujarat Until Controversies Are Resolved: CM Vijay Rupani

After Haryana CM ML Khattar on Wednesday said that the state government will arrive at a decision on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati only after censor board clears it, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said that the film will not be released in the state until the controversies surrounding the film are resolved.

A notification banning the film's release was issued by the information and broadcasting department of the state. "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of the section 6 of the Gujarat Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 2004, the government of Gujarat hereby imposes ban on Hindi feature film "Padmavati" produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions Pvt Ltd within the jurisdiction of the state of Gujarat," the notification read.

Rupani said he will not allow the film to release in the poll-bound state as it hurts the sentiments of the Rajput community. "There are issues with the film, our sympathy is with those who are protesting against it and that is the reason we will not allow its release in the state till those issues are resolved," he said.

"We can't allow our history to be distorted....We believe in freedom of speech and expression but any foul play with our great culture will not be tolerated," the chief minister said. The decision not to allow screening of the movie was taken keeping in mind the law and order situation in the poll-bound state, he added.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film has been facing stiff opposition over allegations that it twists historical facts. BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have already expressed reservations about the film.

BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu, who has been booked for announcing bounty over Bhansali, Deepika’s heads, said he would not allow anyone to watch Padmavati, claiming that the heroic character of 'Rani Padmavati' has been shown in a bad light in the period drama. "I do not want to see the movie and I will not let anybody else watch it. If you call it 'gundagardi' (hooliganism), it does not affect me," he told reporters at a press conference.

Meanwhile, a Lok Sabha committee has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to submit a report on the fate of the film starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, by November 30.