Bhansali assaulted on sets of ‘Padmavati’; shooting stalled

Tribune News Service

Jaipur, January 27

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was allegedly assaulted here today by activists of a Rajput community group who also forced stoppage of shooting of his movie “Padmavati” by vandalising the set at Jaigarh Fort, alleging that the director was “distorting facts”.

The police said it had detained five persons for disturbing peace even though no complaint was received from Bhansali’s side.

The ruckus took place when the film, in which Deepika Padukone is playing “Padmavati” and Ranveer Singh is playing “Alauddin Khilji”, was being shot at the historic fort, eyewitnesses said.

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Karni Sena activists gathered at the site and demanded stoppage of the shooting. They stormed the set and damaged some chairs and other objects, forcing stoppage of the shooting. After the incident, the director decided not to go ahead with the shooting 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 FIR was lodged by anyone but five persons were detained by the police for disturbing peace. The filmmaker has said he will not go ahead with the shooting plans here and he will pack up, Bhomia said.

Singh claims that Bhansali wants to present “distorted facts” about Rani Padmavati which will not tolerated by the Rajput community. The director is yet to comment on the incident.