Haryana ministers urge Smriti Irani to ban Padmavati

After Karni Sena, Haryana ministers too has joined protests against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati. Health minister Anil Vij, has written to Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and urged her to ban the film.

Health minister Anil Vij, in his letter, said the state government would approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), seeking an immediate ban on the release and screening of the film.

Besides Vij, Industries & commerce and environment minister Vipul Goel also wrote to Irani and Bhansali, asking them not to release the film as it has “distorted facts to glorify Allaudin Khilji,”reported Times of India.

Meanwhile, The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) will on Monday lead an appeal to Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on behalf of four other associations, to allow freedom for filmmakers in the wake of the ongoing controversy over "Padmavati".

Members of IFTDA, Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA), Western India Cinematographers Association (WICA), Screenwriters Association (SWA) and Association of Cine and Television Art Directors & Costume Designers, will hold a press meet here later on Monday.

“Five bodies are coming together to make an appeal for freedom of expression for filmmakers. The industry is shocked and we are hurt that a filmmaker like Sanjay Leela Bhansali is being heckled and abused. Bhansali symbolises success of our film industry in many ways, and if he can be treated like this and harassed, things are not right,”Ashoke Pandit, IFTDA President told IANS.

He said their appeal is to the ministers to take note of the controversy and uphold the freedom of filmmakers.

“Nobody has seen the film, yet people are making assumptions and attacking and abusing Bhansali. Similar controversy happened around Indu Sarkar. What will we do? We can't make films to suit everyone's ego. If someone doesn't want to watch the film, don't watch it. If someone doesn't want it to release, go to court,” Pandit said.

Padmavati, slated to release on December 1, is embroiled in a controversy as some Hindu groups claim that the film distorts history and wrongly portrays Rajput queen Padmavati, a contention Bhansali has repeatedly rebuffed.

The Broken Key to release in Italy

Veteran actor Kabir Bedi’s next international film The Broken Key will be releasing in Italy on November 16.

Kabir, who earlier featured in international films like The Bold and the Beautiful and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, took to Twitter on Sunday to announce the release date of his next venture.

Kabir will be seen essaying the role of a professor of antiquities in The Broken Key. The English film, shot in Italy, is a suspense drama.

The film also stars Michael Madsen and Geraldine Chaplin.

I’m a fan of Big B, Kajol: Kamal Haasan

Tamil movie icon Kamal Haasan says he is a fan of megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actress Kajol.

Kajol, 43, had previously shared a photograph of herself along with Big B and Kamal on Twitter.

Kamal, 63, on Sunday shared the same photograph and said that though he is not a fan of taking selfies, he is a fan of the actors.

Kamal and Amitabh have together worked in films like Khabardar and Geraftaar.

With inputs from IANS