People should look at films as art form: Arshad

Coming out in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati", actor Arshad Warsi says people should understand that films are an art form.

"I think in our country, people have a lot of free time and that is the problem. People might have their own perspective and reasons (to protest, but somewhere they should think that 'Padmavati' is not a reality. It's a myth and fictionalized story of a writer, so it has no truth to it.

"I feel people should look at the film only as an art form then it will be better," Arshad said on the sidelines of Wizcraft International's Broadway-styled theatrical "Balle Balle" here on Thursday.

He said "these kind of musicals should take place more often".

"Padmavati", slated to release on December 1, continues to be mired in controversy as various groups and individuals allege it will distort historical facts -- a claim Bhansali has repeatedly rebuffed.