'Padmavati' controversy: Sanjay Leela Bhansali cancels shooting, says assault uncalled for

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has cancelled the shooting of "Padmavati" here, saying the assault on him and vandalism on the sets of his movie by a Rajput group that triggered outrage in the film industry was "uncalled for" and extremely damaging to the image of the beautiful city.

"The shooting has been stopped by the filmmaker at Jaigarh Fort and they have vacated the place," SHO Amer police station Narendra Kumar said.

A statement issued through Bhansali's representative said keeping in mind the safety of the film's crew, the director decided to stop the shooting post the "shocking" incident.

"Sanjay Leela Bhansali has shot two films in Jaipur and despite his love for Rajasthan, for the safety of his crew, we have decided to stop the shoot and leave the city post the shocking incident where miscreants damaged property and misbehaved with the crew on the shoot of Padmavati," it said.

Bhansali was yesterday roughed up by members of the Rajput community group who also stopped the shooting by damaging the set at Jaigarh

Fort, alleging that the director was "distorting facts" in the movie which is about Alauddin Khiljis obsession with Rani Padmavati.

Refuting claims of the fringe group that the film will feature an intimate scene between Alauddin Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh, and Rani Padmavati (Deepika Padukone), Bhansali said there is no such sequence.

"We clarify that there is no dream sequence or any objectionable scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji. We have been carefully researching and making the film. In spite of this, the attack on the shoot and crew was uncalled for and was extremely damaging to the image of the beautiful city of Jaipur."

Karni Sena today reiterated its stand to oppose any distortion of historical facts and demanded a written assurance from the director while also blaming his security for the commotion yesterday.

"I do not support any violence. The Karni Sena had gone there to oppose the shooting and talk to Bhansali. But he refused to meet and three bullets were fired in the air by his security men which led to provocation and commotion," Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Karni Sena founder, said at a press conference.

He said they had communicated their objection six months prior to the shooting after they came to know about a supposed the dream sequence of Alauddin Khilji through Ranveer's interview.

Besides Bhansali, the film's three lead stars -- Ranveer, Deepika and Shahid Kapoor -- slammed the fringe outfit for the incident.
Deepika, who is in the titular role of Padmavati, tweeted, "In a state of shock!deeply saddened and disheartened by yesterday's events!#Padmavati."

The actress assured that the team behind the film is not distorting any historical facts and their aim is to bring on-screen the story of "courageous and powerful" Padmavati.

"As Padmavati I can assure you that there is absolutely no distortion of history.#Padmavati. Our only endeavour is & has always been to share with the world the story of this courageous & powerful woman in the purest form there is," she wrote.

Ranveer too termed it an "unfortunate" incident.