100Member Mob Threatens To Burn Down Theatres If Padmavati is released

Deepika Padukone at the event. Pic/Yogen Shah

"We don't want the trailer to be launched," hollered Ajay Sanger, leader of the organisation, as he distributed pamphlets stating that filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was distorting history and "hurting the sentiments of Hindus by showing Rani Padmavati as the object of Alauddin Khilji's affections." The mob intended to disrupt the event, but their plans were thwarted by heavy police bandobast. Two police vans and four jeeps were stationed outside the venue, with several cops patrolling the premises.

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Padukone, who attended the event sans her two co-stars and director, was provided with additional security of 10 cops, besides her regular bouncers. Speaking to mid-day, Sanger said, "We won't allow the film's release till Bhansali shows it to us. We damaged the Kolhapur set and that was just a warning. We will burn down theatres if the film is released. If anyone gets injured or dies, the government will be held responsible." He added that they have lined up a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "We want him to take charge of the matter. It is high time Bhansali came out in the open and took a decision on the subject."

Police security at the event

Meanwhile, at the event, a fiery Padukone made her intentions known, loud and clear as she said, "Nobody can stop Padmavati from releasing. We are doing nothing [wrong]. Our heart is in the right place. I feel as if I am living her and she [Rani Padmini] has blessed me." Bhansali's magnum opus has had a rocky journey from the storyboard to the audiences. Members of Rajput Karni Sena had attacked Bhansali and stalled the film's shoot at Jaigarh fort in Jaipur in January. Soon after, in March, the film's set in Kolhapur was torched.