Rajput activists say they vandalised the set of Bhansali’s new film Padmavati because he is “presenting wrong facts”.
Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Credit: PTI
New Delhi: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted on Friday after the shooting of his historical drama ‘Padmavati’ was stalled by activists of a Rajput group.
According to NDTV, “members of the Rajput Karni Sena stormed the film’s sets at the historic Jaigarh Fort and assaulted Bhansali” after which they vandalised the shoot’s equipment.
In view of the trouble, the filmmaker decided not to shoot the movie here, police said.
While the shooting of the film, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, was underway, the activists of Karni Sena assembled at the Jaigarh Fort and held a demonstration. Some of them also tried to vandalise the set.
In the movie, Deepika is playing ‘Padmavati’ and Ranveer ‘Alaudin Khilji’.
“We had warned the filmmaker against presenting wrong facts. When we came to know about the shooting, we gathered there and protested,” said district president of Karni sena Narayan Singh.
Another activist Vikram Singh said the film is presenting wrong facts about Padmavati. “Our basic protest is about distortion of historic facts which will not be tolerated,” he said. He alleged that a security guard opened fire in the air which created panic. However, police denied the allegation.
After the shooting was stalled, Bhansali and his team members talked to the Karni Sena and assured them that their demands would be looked into.
“The filmmakers have assured that they will not shoot here and will pack up,” DCP North Anshuman Bhomia said.
He said that there was no report of firing and no FIR has been lodged by any party so far.