The long wait for the fans is finally over for those eagerly waiting for Padmavati’s (now Padmavat) release. After several delays and uncertainties, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavat will finally release on January 25. However, grey clouds are still looming over the movie as convincing individual state governments that have declared a ban on the film is still a live issue. Five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – which have been the nerve centres of the protests against the film have banned the film for now, as per reports.
The Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor-starrer is expected to arrive in theatres on 25 January for the extended Republic Day weekend, as per media reports. If this happens, the movie will clash with Akshay Kumar’s Padman. A big box-office clash is, therefore, inevitable, as the makers of Padman have maintained that they will not shift the release of their film, come what may.
Padmavat, which stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, was recently given a green signal by the Central Board of Film Certification, subject to five modifications including a change in the title from Padmavati to Padmavat. CBFC also asked for the inclusion of two disclaimers; one clarifying that the filmmakers do not claim historical accuracy, and a second that says the film does not endorse the practice of Sati and Jauhar. The filmmakers were also asked to modify a song sequence featuring the Mewar queen, played by Deepika Padukone, as per media reports. The film has been cleared with a U/A certificate.
Reportedly, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which spearheaded the agitation against Padmavat, is not pacified and is demanding a total ban on the film.