The controversy over Bollywood film Padmavati took an ugly turn on Thursday with a senior functionary of the right wing Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatening Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone with physical harm if she incited public sentiments.
Referring to nose chopping in the epic Ramayana, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana said that while Kshatriyas respected women, if the film was not banned and Padukone does not stop inciting sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.
Padukone had ealier said that nothing could stop the release of the film and that India had regressed as a nation.
“It’s appalling, it’s absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed,” Deepika said. “The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film,” said the actress, adding that the film industry’s support symbolises how “this is not about ‘Padmavati’... We’re fighting a much bigger battle.”
The film is based on the story of Rani Padmini, a legendary Hindu Rajput queen referenced in a poem written in 1540. While the film’s plot is still unknown, protests have been led by right-wing Hindu groups, accusing director Sanjay Leela Bhansali of distorting historical facts. Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh also star in the period film.
Meanwhile, former member of parliament Ijyaraj Singh of the Kota royal family issued an appeal for respecting the sentiments of Rajput community.
In a press note released in Kota, a town in western state of Rajasthan in India, on Thursday, Ijayraj Singh said the movie Padmavati is reported to have screened some scenes that are against the glory of the Rajput community.
Distortion of historical facts in the movie has hurt the public sentiments, he said.
