BJP leader wants 'Padmavati' director Bhansali to be tried for treason

Bhansali has repeatedly clarified that the film has no scenes which can hurt sentiments of the Rajput clan

Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali should be tried for treason for distorting history, BJP member Arjun Gupta has urged in a letter addressed to Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Gupta, who is the General Secretary of the Uttar Bharatiya Morcha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said something "disgusting" is being done in the pursuit of earning money and for boosting one's career.

PHOTO: DEEPIKA PADUKONE/INSTAGRAM

Referring to Bhansali, Gupta said that he has tried to malign Rani Padmavati's sacrifice through Padmavati.

"The whole country, not just the Rajput community, is standing against it. He needs to be severely punished by being tried for treason for his attempt to distort history, so that in future any filmmaker is wary of these kind of projects."



Gupta has also appealed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to "not certify this film".

"I am fully confident that my letter will taken into consideration, and a sedition case is run (registered) against Bhansali," Gupta added.

Bhansali, on the other hand, has repeatedly clarified that the film has no such scene between Rani Padmavati and invader Alauddin Khilji which can hurt sentiments.

Film-maker, following protests and problems against his film Padmavati, said the film upholds the honour of Rajputs and has not depicted anything that will hurt anyone's sentiments.

screengrab

In an accompanying video link, Bhansali, who has so far refrained from commenting much on the controversy, says, "I've made this film Padmavati' with a lot of sincerity, responsibility and hard work. I have always been inspired by Rani Padmavati's story and this film salutes her valour and sacrifice. But because of some rumours, this film has become a subject of controversy.

"The controversy is over the fact that the film has a dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji - something that I have already denied even in written. Now through this video, I am reiterating that in our film, Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji have no such scene together which hurts anyone's sentiments.



"We have made this film with a lot of responsibility and have kept the pride and honour of the Rajputs in mind."

The Rajasthan government plans to set up a committee to watch Sanjay Leela Bhansali's forthcoming controversial movie Padmavati.

"Modalities in this direction will be worked out soon. The committee will watch the movie and will identify the scenes in the film that may hurt the sentiments of public," Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told IANS.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted on the sets of Padmavati in Jaipur. PHOTO: MASALA

"What has to done after that... Do we have to talk to the film-maker... It will only be decided after watching the film. Moreover, what we can do on our level will also be decided after the committee watches the film," Kataria said.



While the Rajasthan government may set up a committee, it is not immediately clear whether Bhansali will screen the movie for it as by law, only the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has the right to certify a movie.

The movie, which is being called an epic historical drama, features Deepika Padukone as Rajput queen Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband Rawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji.

Padmavati is slated to release on December 1, and there is brouhaha over it as various organisations have been targeting the film-maker for distortion of history in the movie, touted as a "historical drama".

PHOTO: MID-DAY

Bhansali was attacked at the Jaipur set of the film by activists of Rajput organisation Shri Rajput Karni Sena. Later, a set of the film in Kolhapur was vandalised and set on fire.

Karni Sena representatives have been voicing concerns over the film's release, and Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha has protested against its release too. Some political leaders are of the view that the makers must show the film to historians.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.