Expect no compromise: Karni Sena on ‘Padmavat’

The Shree Rajput Karni Sena on Wednesday asserted that it will not reach a compromise with the makers of Padmavat, and called for a janata curfew whenever the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial is released.

Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who is leading the protest against the movie, told media persons: "We needed one small clarification that time that there will be nothing between Alauddin Khilji and Padmavati... We would have been content with it, but now we will not compromise in any way."

He also called for a "janata curfew" when the movie is released.

The Rajput outfit had first expressed concern after Ranveer Singh -- one of the three lead actors of the movie -- made a casual statement back in July 2016. He was reportedly asked if he was playing the role of a villain in the film, and he had said that he could go two notches beyond playing the role of a villain if he was given two intimate scenes with the film's leading lady Deepika Padukone.

This led to the question whether the movie showcases any intimacy between Khilji and Rani Padmavati. Subsequently, activists of Karni Sena even assaulted Bhansali on the film's set in Jaipur and another set in Kolhapur was vandalised.

Bhansali and Viacom18 Pictures have been facing numerous hurdles in releasing the movie which, the director has said, is based on 16th century Indian sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic poem "Padmavat".

The censor board gave it the green signal with a U/A certification in consultation with a three-member advisory panel.

Dismissing it as hogwash, Kalvi questioned why it was shown to three people when there was talk about having a nine-member panel.

He said while the Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh governments have decided against the movie's release, he is expecting other states to follow suit.

"I believe Telangana, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh will also make some announcement in a few days," Kalvi said, insisting that the movie should not be released in theatres as it twists and turns history.

Parrikar gives green signal to ‘Padmavat’ release in Goa

If Padmavat has been given a censor certificate by the CBFC, then the Goa government does not have a problem to screen it in cinema halls, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Wednesday.

"If they have a censor certificate we do not have objection. If there is a law and order issue, we will look at it then," Parrikar told reporters.

Parrikar also said that the state police had expressed apprehensions about the film being screened in Goa during the peak tourism season in December, when a significant chunk of the uniformed personnel are busy discharging law and order duties.

He added that since the peak season was over, the apprehension was irrelevant.

"Police report was for peak season. Peak season is over, so there is no problem," Parrikar said.

The women's wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party had objected to the screening of the film in Goa citing law and order problems and wrong portrayal of queen Padmavati in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film.

After much controversy and delay, the Central Board of Film Certification finally certified Padmavat, clearing the path for its release in cinema halls.

Hrithik Roshan turns 44

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has turned 44- year-old on Wednesday. His ex- wife Sussanne shared a heartfelt post for her ex-husband on Instagram.

Hrithik made his debut in 2000 in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. He was later seen in films like Fiza, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham., Koi... Mil Gaya, Krrish, Krrish 3 Jodhaa Akbar Guzaarish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Agneepath and Bang Bang!.

The actor, who was last seen on screen in Kaabil last year, is currently prepping for "Super 30", a film on Anand Kumar - a mathematics genius from a modest family in Bihar.