Sanjay Leela Bhansali attacked on 'Padmavati' set

Entertainment Desk: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was allegedly assaulted in Jaipur on Friday by activists of a Rajput community group who also stopped the shooting of his movie Padmavati by vandalising the set at Jaigarh Fort, alleging that the director was “distorting facts”.

Police said it had detained five persons for disturbing peace even though no complaint had been registered by Bhansali.

The ruckus took place when the film, in which Deepika Padukone is playing the titular role and Ranveer Singh is playing Alaudin Khilji, was being shot at the historic fort, eyewitnesses said.

Activists of Karni Sena gathered at the site and demanded filming stop. They stormed the set and damaged some chairs and other objects, resulting in shooting interruption.

After the incident, the director decided not to continue filming in the state.

“We had warned the filmmakers against presenting wrong facts. When we came to know about the shooting, we gathered there and protested. Besides the Karni sena activists, there were several other people who had gone there to watch the shooting. Someone from the mob slapped him and pulled his hair,” district president of Karni sena Narayan Singh claimed.

“There was a protest and the issue was settled after both the parties held talks,” said DPC North (Jaipur) Anshuman Bhomia.

He said no first information report was lodged by anyone but five persons have been detained by the police for disturbing peace.

The filmmaker has said he will pack up and move the shoot to another state, Bhomia said.

Singh claimed that Bhansali wants to present a “distorted fact” about Rani Padmavati, which will not tolerated by the Rajput community.

“We want that no distorted fact be shown in the film and have asked the filmmaker to take care of it. The Rajput community will strongly oppose any move of presenting wrong facts about Rani Padmavati,” he said.

The director is yet to comment on the incident.

CELEBRITIES REACT

Meanwhile, the Indian film industry has condemned the attack, terming it “appalling”, “ridiculous” and “mockery of democracy”.

“Thoughts of what has transpired with Sanjay Bhansali today are just not leaving me!! Feeling helpless and angry!! This cannot be our future! Attacking a filmmaker and his right to free voice is no answer. So called historian and moral police! Disgusting!” Karan Johar tweeted.

The filmmaker, who recently faced the ire of a right-wing organisation over his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, said, “No member of our industry should be silent on this matter It’s calls for unity and NOT selective indifference.”

Director-actor Anurag Kashyap added: “Can once the whole film industry come together and take a stand, and refuse to be a pony that all [expletive] and [expletive] ride on?

“At the same time, shame on you Karni Sena, you make me feel ashamed to be a Rajput [expletive] spineless cowards,” he said.

Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra, who worked with Bhansali in Bajirao Mastani, said she is “saddened” by the whole incident.

“It’s appalling to hear what happened to #SanjayLeelaBhansali. I’m so saddened. Violence is not what our forefathers taught you,” she wrote.

Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 28, 2017/Nasim