Karni Sena honours Shatrughan Sinha for opposing Padmavati

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has often been vocal against the stands taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership, has, for a change, echoed the views of the party’s governments in different states. The veteran actor has endorsed the opposition to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati.

Happy with his opposition to the period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the Bihar unit of Sri Rajput Karni Sena has felicitated him by presenting a photograph of queen Padmini, also referred to as Padmavati, reported Prabhat Khabar.

While the Bollywood has been rallying behind Bhansali and the stars of Padmavati over the controversy surrounding the film, Sinha has taken a different stand on the film citing the alleged distortion of historical facts.

Notably, several BJP-ruled states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, have decided not to screen the film in theatres unless the makers go for changes as sought by groups like Karni Sena.

The Karni Sena had, however, said that it would not allow the film to release even if changes were made in the film.

"My party members and I are totally against the film Padmavati's release. Even after the changes, we will not allow it to hit the theatres. We will come out on the streets along with other social organisations and protest against it if it gets a release date," Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi had said.

Padmavati- based on the life of a Rajput Queen Rani Padmavati - is in the eye of the storm following protests from right-wing groups over alleged tampering with historical facts, a charge which Sanjay Leela Bhansali has categorically denied.

The film features Deepika Padukone in the titular role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji.

The release of the film, which was earlier slated for December 1, has now been deferred as the filmmakers are yet to secure a censor certificate. 

The Rajput Karni Sena had even called for a Bharat Bandh on December 1 to protest against the controversial film over what it calls ''blatant distortion of facts'' by its makers. Several rewards were also announced for those who “behead” Deepika Padukone and Bhansali.