Padmavati is based on a 1540 poem by the Sufi writer Malik Muhammad Jaysi. In the UK, the charity is upset because it believes the film has been falsely presented as historically accurate. Specifically, they believe, it wrongly places Padmini as the “motive behind the Chittor siege in 1303”. They say the siege was part of an imperial push by the Muslim forces and a contemporaneous account does not mention Padmavati, who was added in later tellings.

“Padmavati is a revered figure in India and she represents the national pride like Marianne in France and King Arthur in GB,” Rajput Samaj of UK wrote to the BBFC. “Efforts of [the] directors to glorify Alauddin Khilji are similar to glorifying Isis terrorists for killing and enslaving Yazidi girls in this modern world. We must stand up against the glamorisation of plundering, looting, and other barbaric acts.”

The charity told the BBFC: “We understand that experts can judge the violence, language, and scene but we need to find the right historians who can watch the film and stop the character assassination of Indian icons.”

The Hindu extremist group, Karni Sena, threatened to torch any British cinema that screened the film. The Indian censor is still considering whether to approve it for release there.

However, the decision of the UK authorities to approve the film prompted a leader from Karni Sena to threaten to take their campaign to the UK.

“Every theatre screening Padmavati will be burned,” Sukhdev Singh told the Mumbai-based Republic TV. I myself wanted to go [to the UK] to protest but the Indian government has confiscated my passport.”

It is unlikely, however, that the Karni Sena, a fringe group in India, has members in the UK and Rajput Samaj of UK was keen to stress it did not back calls for violence.

Though few people outside its cast and crew have seen the film, rumours that it included an intimate dream sequence between Padmini and the invading king have fuelled months of violent protests across India.

Rajputs, a traditional warrior community to which Padmini was said to belong, have been particularly outraged by the film and by clips of Padukone dancing and showing her midriff, which they say is a “distortion of history”.

The BBC reported on Friday that a body had been found hanging outside a fort in Rajasthan, along with a warning note mentioning the film that read: “We don’t burn effigies, we hang.”

Though historians say there is little evidence that Padmini really existed, she has attained huge symbolic importance among Rajputs. Bhansali has repeatedly clarified that the film contains no love scenes and tried to dampen the outrage by working with activists to cut parts of the film that may be controversial.

The Indian supreme court agreed on Thursday to hear a petition next week asking that the film’s UK release be banned.

Lawyers said it was unlikely the court could prevent an overseas debut, though the film’s producers have already said they would await the Indian censor’s approval before distributing the movie worldwide.

Hysteria over the film has grown as its scheduled December release date has approached, fanned by leading politicians including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).

The party of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has regularly been accused of indulging extremist groups that share its Hindu nationalist ideology and who have been implicated in a wave of attacks in recent years, especially against Indian Muslims.

A BJP officer in Haryana state, Surajpal Amu, was asked by the party to explain remarks he gave a rally this week that he would pay 10m rupees to anyone who beheaded Padukone and Bhansali. At least five states including Punjab, led by the opposition Congress party, have also banned the film’s release.

Padukone has described the threats against her life as “absolutely appalling”. “What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation?” she said this week.

The actor, who recently starred alongside Vin Diesel in XxX: The Return of Xander Cage, is believed to have cancelled an event this weekend with Ivanka Trump as a result of the controversy. Trump is visiting India to speak at a business summit in Hyderabad.

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor will be feted with the Best Actress honour for her performance in the biopic “Neerja” at the Asia Vision Movie Awards.

The actress will be presented the honour at the 11th Edition of the Asia Vision Movie Awards, to be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, read a statement issued on behalf of Sonam.

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Directed by Ram Madhvani, “Neerja” featured Sonam as Neerja Bhanot, who had lost her life while saving others on a hijacked Pan Am plane.

Sonam has already won some accolades for her performance in the film, and was lauded by critics for her role.

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On the work front, Sonam is gearing up for her next “Veere Di Wedding”, which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Swara Bhaskar.

IANS

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who will next be seen in a bold avatar in the forthcoming film “Wajah Tum Ho”, says he is currently focussing on Bollywood.

Before venturing into Bollywood, the 32-year-old appeared in shows like “Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi”, “Punar Vivah” and “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5”. He gained popularity through his portrayal of Lord Ram on the mythological television show “Ramayan”.

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Asked if he is planning to juggle between TV and films, Gurmeet told IANS: “I’m channelising all the energies and focussing mostly on Bollywood. At the same time, I’m also open to do reality shows as I believe they are fun.”

Directed by Vishal Pandya, “Wajah Tum Ho” also features Sana Khan, Sharman Joshi and Rajniesh Duggall.

“Wajah Tum Ho” is slated to release on December 2.

IANS