Padmavati row: Karni Sena withdraws Bharat Bandh Call after makers deferred release of magnum opus

While the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming period drama 'Padmavati' has been deferred amidst ongoing protests and controversies, the Bharat Bandh call of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) also stands deferred.

Talking about their latest decision regarding 'Padmavati', founder patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi said, "The formal announcement for withdrawal for Bharat Bandh on December 1 by SRKS though will be made on Monday after an all-community meeting," reported Times of India.

"Once the new release date is announced, we will again apply our full strength and force to stop the release of Padmavati, we will sit with members of our community and others to think about it on Monday. During then we will also announce our future strategy," Kalvi was quoted while interacting with Times of India. 

"We will not allow the release of the movie, be it December 1 or any other date. The film will never be released," he added.

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Padmavati, which is happened to be one of the much-anticipated movies of the year, has been mired in controversy since inception. From vandalisation of film sets to protests across the country, the movie has managed to be in the headlines till the time.

Earlier this year, fringe group Rajput Karni Sena vandalised the sets of the film in Jaipur and roughed up the director, while in a fresh event, members of Hindu fringe group Karni Sena have vandalised Akash mall in Kota, Rajasthan.

The miscreants entered Akash mall and broke the glass doors after receiving the information that Padmavati trailer is being played in the theatres inside the mall.

Karni Sena also destroyed the sets in Kolhapur and set costumes on fire.

They have allegedly threatened to burn the theatres if the film is played in cinema halls before it is shown to them.In the absence of the crew, around 50 protesters appeared with petrol bombs and destroyed the whole set thereby injuring several animals.

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Protests have even reached right to the doorsteps of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Juhu office and Karni Sena members have threatened to chop off Deepika Padukone’s nose for violating Indian culture. Police have further tightened securities outside Bhansali and Deepika's Padukone's house.

The protestors allege that Bhansali has distorted historical facts to sell the film. Sources say that the character of Padmavati has been shown dancing and there is a sequence that shows Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji in intimate moments which is severely objected by Rajput organisations.

Meanwhile, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has also sent the magnum opus back to its makers on November 17 and has cited some technical issues.

However, several members in and outside the industry have come forward to back the Deepika Padukone-starrer. From Salman Khan to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, celebrities have requested people to watch films as films and not judge it before its release.

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Also starring Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in key roles, the period drama is yet to get a new release date.