Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Amid the raging protests over "Padmavati", the film's co-producers Viacom18 Motion Pictures said Sunday that have postponed the release date of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film.

Advertisment

Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor was up for release on December 1. The film has been co-produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions.

A spokesperson of Viacom18 Motion Pictures said that it had taken the decision "voluntarily" and would soon announce the new release date for the film.

"Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the studio behind "Padmavati", has voluntarily deferred the release date of the film from December 1 2017," Viacom18 stated.

Advertisment

The spokesman said it had the highest regard for the law of the land and statutory bodies such as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). (Also Read - Padmavati' makers putting pressure to clear film: Censor board chairman)

As a "responsible and law-abiding corporate citizen", it was committed to following the established procedure and convention, it said.

"...We are a responsible, law-abiding corporate citizen and have the highest respect and regard for the law of the land and all our institutions and statutory bodies including the Central Board of Film Certification," the statement said.

Advertisment

"We have faith that we will soon obtain the requisite clearances to release the film," the statement read.

"We will announce the revised release date of the film in due course. We stand firm in our commitment to tell endearing tales that resonate with our audiences the world over as we have in the past with our other projects such as "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha", "Queen", "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" and many more," it added.

The makers reiterated that the film was a cinematic masterpiece capturing "Rajput valour, dignity and tradition in all its glory".

"The film is an eloquent portrayal of a tale that will fill every Indian with pride and showcase our country's story-telling prowess across the globe," it said.

The statement comes in the wake of the criticism by the Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi who had yesterday criticised the filmmakers for putting pressure on the censor board to clear the film without completing the paperwork. 

He had also slammed the filmmakers for screening the film for the press and on national channels without the censor board "having seen or certified" the film.

The CBFC had sent the film back to the producer as the application for the certification was "incomplete".

Protests intensify

Protests against the film continued on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said his government would not allow the film to release in Uttar Pradesh "unless and until objectionable scenes are removed."

"The screening has been deferred by a few days, we will also wait for a few days and see," Lokendra Singh Kalvi, President of the Rajput Karni Sena, which is at the forefront of the protests said today on calls for a shutdown on December 1.

On  Saturday, the Rajput Karni Sena president had said that he had given a call for ''Bharat Bandh'' on December 1 and won't allow the release of Padmavati.  

Haryana BJP's chief media coordinator SP Amu said on Sunday he would reward those who beheaded Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone with Rs 10 crores. He also threatened to break actor Ranveer Singh's legs if he didn't "take his words back."

"Want to congratulate Meerut youth for announcing Rs 5 crore bounty for beheading Deepika, Bhansali. We will reward the ones beheading them, with Rs 10 crore, and also take care of their family's needs," SP Amu said. 

"If you (Ranveer Singh) don't take your words back, we will break your legs and hand them to you."

Haryana BJP's chief media coordinator threatened to quit the BJP if needed and asked prime minister Narendra Modi to exercise his powers to strike down the film.

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha brandished swords and protested against the film in Delhi.

Members of the Akhand Rashtrawadi Party staged a demonstration against Padmavati in Delhi and said they have filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Delhi High Court against the film.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday wrote to Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani requesting her that the film "Padmavati" should not be released until some changes are made to it so that it "does not hurt the sentiments of any community".

In her letter, the Rajasthan chief minister has suggested that a committee should be formed to discuss the film and its plot and should suggest amendments. 

The Rajasthan government had earlier this month suggested that a committee should be set up to examine the facts related to the film. 

The Supreme Court has refused to stay the film and said that the Central Board of Film Certification or the censor board follows guidelines and considers all aspects before granting a certificate to any film.

"Padmavati" has been in the centre of a storm ever since filming began earlier this year.

The Rajput Karni Sena had vandalised the film sets in Jaipur and Kolhapur and also allegedly assaulted Sanjay Leeka Bhansali during shooting in Jaipur.

Various Rajput groups, the Rajasthan BJP and the Bajrang Dal have claimed that the director has "distorted" historical facts.

Their objection is to an alleged dream sequence between Ranveer Singh's Alauddin Khilji and Deepika Padukone's Rani Padmini, on which "Padmavati" is based.

Mahipal Singh Makrana of Rajput Karni Sena made a video in which he stated that Rajputs do not raise their hand on women but if need be, they will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali  Deepika Padukone's security has been increased by the Mumbai police after the threats.

The film fraternity has come out in support of Bhansali and the team, with many leading artistes calling it an attack on creative freedom.