Entertainment: Padmavati grand trailer brags of Rajput valour

The newly launched trailer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati spells grandeur and focuses on the valour of Rajputs, and not on any romantic angle between the characters of Padmavati and the medieval-era Delhi ruler Alauddin Khilji.

The possibility of any romantic scene had become the reason for the film and filmmaker getting attacked by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena earlier.

With actor Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh mouthing dialogues praising the Rajputs and actress Deepika Padukone as Rajput queen Padmavati emphasising on the strength of Rajputi bangles, the trailer is mostly about the Hindu warriors.

Actor Ranveer Singh, known for his live-wire acts, looks fierce and aggressive as Alauddin Khilji, who leads an army to wage a war against the Rajputs in the trailer.

Deepika’s beauty cannot be missed as she walks with a poise of a royal, dressed in ornate jewellery and ethnic wear with intricate details to suit her part.

The over three-minute trailer also gives a dekko of the film’s high production value, with its wide angle shots suggesting the army of people used to shoot the period movie.

Filmmmaker Karan Johar was quick to praise the trailer of the film.

Alia Bhatt said she was blown away by the trailer

Let’s not discriminate: Farhan on Hrithik-Kangana row

Actor Farhan Akhtar has backed actor Hrithik Roshan in the ongoing row with actress Kangana Ranaut.

Farhan on Sunday took to an open letter on Facebook to defend Hrithik, with whom he has worked in films such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Luck By Chance, but without naming anyone in the letter.

Farhan cited how unfairly Hrithik has been judged by the media, who presented only one side of the narrative to their audiences. He also mentioned about how different the situation would have been if the genders of both parties were reversed.

“Today, I read an open letter written by a man I know about a woman I know, professionally, at best. Although a controversy about them is going around since a while now, to my best knowledge this is the first time this man has expressed his point of view,” he began.

“I am not the authority on who is right or wrong in their situation, that's for the cyber crime officials to figure out, but I do feel certain aspects of the way the events have unfolded need comment.”

The actor added that in the society, it is the woman who suffers injustice and repression.

“It is horrifying but true that in some cases of rape, a section of society has blamed the victim. I have always found this to be unacceptable,” said the founder of social campaign MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination).

“Although it is true that in most cases it is a woman that has been wronged, there is a difference between ‘most’ and ‘all’,” he said, adding: “There have been cases where men have been stalked.”

Farhan stated that though Hrithik has handed over his personal phone and laptop to the authorities concerned, Kangana has avoided doing so.

He also made reference to a photograph of the two actors from a party -- which Farhan says is “manipulated”.

“The actual image consisted of a group of friends including the man's wife (now ex-wife) standing together in a party,” Farhan wrote.

He says the reason he felt the need to say this is because it is apparent that some people have already “jumped to conclusions while some are deriving some sort of voyeuristic pleasure by encouraging the woman to carry on speaking”.

Farhan also urged everyone to “avoid vilifying the man on the basis of unsubstantiated statements” until a logical conclusion is brought by the authorities.

“Let's not discriminate,” he said.

Celebrities like Farah Khan Ali (former sister-in-law of Hrithik), Karan Johar, Sonam Kapoor and Yami Gautam agreed with Farhan on this.

Kamal Haasan hails non-Brahmin priests appointment in Kerala

Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Monday hailed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for appointing 36 non-Brahmin priests to serve in temples administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB).

Last week, Kerala appointed 62 priests to serve in temples administered by the TDB. Out of the 62, 36 were non-Brahmins of which six were dalit candidates.

Last month, Haasan met Pinarayi in Kerala and discussed about the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

After the meeting, the Dasavatharam actor said his colour was definitely not saffron, amid rumours that he will form a political party on his birthday on November 7.

With inputs from IANS