‘Padmavati’ to release as ‘Padmavat’ on January 25

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial Hindi film "Padmavati", which stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, will release on January 25 as "Padmavat".

"It will release as 'Padmavat' on January 25. The film has got U/A certificate," sources at Viacom18 Motion Pictures told IANS.

Earlier, Karni Sena observer Lokendra singh Kalvi said that filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali should forget dreaming about the film's release.

"All efforts of Bhansali and CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) shall go down the drain as we will never allow the screening of Padmawati anywhere in India or abroad.

"We are still adamant on our demand. Let there be a complete ban on the release of Padmawati," he added.

Kalvi also demanded a complete ban on the "Ghoomar" song. "We don't want any changes in the said song, however, we demand a complete ban on the same," he said.

He also questioned the 'authenticity' of the panel formed by the CBFC to review the film.

Not all of them were historians, hence, their suggestions hardly make a difference, he said, adding that the CBFC proposed to bring in nine historians in the panel but ended calling only three historians "which speaks volumes on their seriousness to justify our demands".

"Padmavati" -- now "Padmavat" -- was earlier slated for release on December 1 but got stuck after the Karni Sena claimed it distorted historical facts related to the Rajput community.