After Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, Haryana became the fourth Indian state to ban Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat on Tuesday citing “law and order situation in the state”. Before the Assembly polls in Gujarat in November last year, the state government had banned the film, which was earlier titled as Padmavati.
ALSO READ: Deepika, Ranveer and Shahid Kapoor confirm release date with new posters
Based on 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem Padmavat, the movie stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role while Ranveer Singh plays invader Alauddin Khilji. Shahid Kapoor essays the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh in the film.
Film Padmavati/Padmavat banned in Haryana
— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) January 16, 2018
The Haryana minister, Anl Vij, was quoted saying, “The CM earlier said we will take a decision after censor board passes it. In this meeting, I said it should be banned in Haryana keeping in view the law and order situation. Cabinet supported this and we decided it will be banned in Haryana.”
The movie has been facing violent protests by the fringe group, Shri Rajput Karni Sena who blame the director and lead actors of insulting Rajputs and the community’s honour. The protesters have issued death threats against Bhansali and Deepika over allegations that the queen romances Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji in the movie – a charge the filmmakers have denied. Historians are divided on whether the queen existed.