Padmavati Row: Shatrughan Sinha questions PM Modi for silence

BJP politician Shatrughan Sinha has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and megastar Amitabh Bachchan's silence over the “burning” issue of the film Padmavati.

He also said that he will speak about the controversy keeping in mind the interest of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the sensitivity of the Rajputs.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that he neither supported a ban on the movie Padmavati nor backed those issuing threats to its actors and crew.

The chief minister made it clear that he was totally opposed to the threats being issued by certain hardline elements to the actors and directors of the film but reiterated that anyone feeling hurt by the alleged distortion of historical facts had the right to peaceful agitation.

The film is in the eye of a storm following protests from conservative groups over alleged tampering with historical facts -- a contention Bhansali has denied repeatedly.

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

Farhan wants his concert Lalkaar to reach villages

Actor Farhan Akhtar, who wants to spread awareness against gender violence through his concert Lalkaar, says that he wants to take this movement to villages and small cities.

Farhan who was present at the Lalkaar concert jointly hosted by his foundation MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Population Foundation Of India on Tuesday, says that this movement shouldn't be restricted to cities.

"We want it to go deeper like in villages and small cities so that it doesn't look like an elitist type of movement," he said.

"We want regional artists and people to get associated with it as we want to present this concert in different languages," he added.

Akhtar's MARD is a social initiative designed to create awareness to instil gender equality and respect towards women.

Failure has been the ‘biggest asset’for me: Subhash Ghai

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai says failure is a blessing in disguise as they make one push boundaries and perform better.

"In my journey of 45 years as a filmmaker, failure has been the biggest asset for me. You should treat failure as a blessing because it gives you a different energy all together," Ghai said here during his masterclass at the ongoing 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

"Failure is an attempt. There is no filmmaker in the world who has not made flop films," he added.

Having started his directorial career with the 1976 film Kalicharan, Ghai's repertoire is studded with cinematic gems like Karz, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Pardes, Taal, Saudagar and Karma.

His last few movies Yuvvraaj, Kaanchi: The Unbreakable and Black & White -- failed to spin magic at the box office and went unnoticed. He also backs films under his banner Mukta Arts and has a film school Whistling Woods International.

His last directorial was in 2014.

Ghai says he will get back to the director's chair but with the right script.

“A filmmaker always wants to make a film. The subject will have to something that I haven't done. I don't want to make a film just for the heck of it.”

with inputs from agencies