·      No show in Rajasthan,  to clash with Padman

300 cuts in Padmavat? Denies CBFC chief Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Prasoon Joshi has refuted a report that the  changes demanded by the censor board in the historical drama, has resulted in 300 cuts. “The makers have submitted the final film with agreed five modifications which has already been communicated and a U/A certificate has been given to the film. CBFC’s process is complete and any further news about cuts is absolutely untrue. Let’s refrain from utilising CBFC’s name unnecessarily,” Joshi said.  A report by a daily from Mumbai reported that to suit the demands of the CBFC, “one of Bollywood’s leading directors was sitting in the editing suite at Rajkamal Studio at Parel, turning the specific locations of his magnum opus into la la land”.

The report further read that Padmavat director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been instructed to delete all references to Delhi, Chittorgarh and Mewar from the film and that “buzz is that the modifications have resulted in as many as 300 cuts”.

Though censor board gave UA certificate to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s periodic drama, ‘Padmavati’ changed to ‘Padmavat’, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje announced that the film will not be released in Rajasthan.

“The sacrifice of Rani Padmini is a matter of pride for the state and she is not just a chapter of history for us,” Raje said.

Following the announcement, state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, the Rajasthan BJP chief and several Rajput organisations vented their anger against the movie.

The film is scheduled to release on January 25^th. “Rani Padmini is our self-respect and we will not let it hurt in any case. Directions in this regard have been given to Rajasthan Home minister,” CM said.

The chief minister has already written to the Centre on the issues related to the film and informed that it will not be released in Rajasthan, Kataria told reporters.

The issue has been politicalized. “We will give a reply to the BJP in the bypolls (in the Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha seats and the Mandalgarh Assembly) scheduled in the state. It will be our target to have the BJP defeated,” Lotwara said at the press conference.

President of Rajput Karni Sena Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi said that by changing the title of the film issues will not be solved. “We will not let the film release in the country. We have been protesting peacefully for the last one year. If the film is released on January 25, then theatres will burn,” he said. Incidentally, this is the same date on which R Balki’s Padman, starring Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte is set to hit the screens.  A big box-office clash is inevitable, as the makers of Padman have maintained that they will not shift the release of their film, come what may.