Actor Salman Khan on Tuesday joined the list of film and television industry members who have condemned the attacks on Padmavati filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali by Rajput and Brahman groups and attempts to thwart the period drama’s December 1 release.
“I want to say that you have the Censor Board and they will take a decision,” the actor told News 18 channel in an interview. Sanjay [Leela Bhansali] makes very beautiful and excellent films and there is nothing wrong with his movies.” The actor has worked with Bhansali on earlier projects including Hum Dil Chuke Sanam (1999) and Khamoshi (1996).
On Monday, at a press event organised by the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, film industry professionals announced that they will hold a silent protest at the Mumbai’s Film City on Thursday at 11 am to support Bhansali. Representatives of other organisations such as the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association, the Screenwriters Association, the Western India Cinematographers Association, the Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union and the Association of Cine and TV Art Directors and Costume Designers were also at the event.
Based on Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem Padmavat, Bhansali’s epic production narrates the tale of the fictional queen of Chittor, Rani Padmini. According to the myth, Rani Padmini set herself on fire to escape the clutches of the invading Delhi sulatanate ruler Alauddin Khilji, who lusted after her.
Rajput and other right-wing groups have alleged that the movie distorts facts and apprehend that it will feature a love scene between Khilji (Ranveer Singh) and Rani Padmini (Deepika Padukone) as a dream sequence.
Protests have continued against the film even after Bhansali repeatedly clarified that there was no such sequence and the film had “kept the honour of Rajputs intact.”
Several members of the film industry have backed Bhansali’s support in light of the opposition, including Javed Akhtar, Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor, Arshad Warsi and Sharmila Tagore.
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