Even as the controversies surrounding Padmavati continue to flare up instead of dying down, more and more people are coming out in support for either side. Among the celebrities that have come out in support of the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and star Deepika Padukone, are veteran actors like Shabana Azmi and Kamal Hassan, but many prominent names haven’t made their views on the issue public. 

While Bollywood’s major stars, including the Khans may be wary of openly airing their opinion for fear of a backlash, that hasn’t stopped them from reaching out to support Deepika privately.

The controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mega movie `Padmavati’ refuses to die with the royal family of Jaipur jumping on to the bandwagon. The release date of film Padmavati has been deferred. The voice of support can be heard from some corners of the Bollywood fraternity. 

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi took Twitter to express her support.

Ad film director Gauri Shinde said on Twitter. 

Actress of Anarkali of Aarah Swara Bhaskar also registered her support for Padmavati on Twitter. 

Some more…

Karni Sena is consistently threatening Actress Deepika Padukone and Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The Bollywood film Padmavati, based on a poem about a Rajput queen written by 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, has sparked protests across the country over “misrepresentations” and “distortion of facts”

Responding to the controversy, leading lady Deepika Padukone said, “As a woman, as an artiste, as someone who has worked and given two years of my life to this movie, I feel hurt, I feel angry , but I also think it is extremely funny that people are reacting like this to a film. I am feeling so many emotions at this point.”

Perturbed but not silenced, Deepika, however, continues to promote the film in her capacity. While talking to DNA After Hrs, the actress said, “I have full faith in the judicial system of our country. I know no wrong will be done.” She has received protection from Mumbai police and is currently function amidst high security. Mumbai police have even warned protestors to maintain law and order and abide only by the constitutional freedom given to them. 

BJP Leader threatens Deepika and Ranveer

The vitriol over Bollywood film Padmavati went up a notch as a BJP office bearer from Haryana said he would double the bounty on the heads of actor Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, to Rs. 10 crore. Surajpal Amu, the party’s chief media coordinator who made the announcement, also threatened to “break the legs” of Ranveer Singh, who plays the role of Alauddin Khilji, the Delhi Sultan obsessed about the legendary 13th Century Queen of Chittor.

After the most vocal group Rajput Karni Sena, which had attacked Bhansali in Jaipur and vandalised a theatre in Noida few days ago, now threatening to harm the lead actress Deepika Padukone by referring to the nose chopping of ‘Surpanakha’, few more shocking threats have been issued by outfits around the country.

Karni Sena President Threatens to chop off Deepika’s nose.

In a death blow to creative liberty, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was roughed up by a Rajput youth group called Karni Sena in Jaipur. The director was attacked for making a film on the life of Rani Padmini with focus on her affair with Allaudin Khilji. Not only was Bhansali attacked by the Padmavati set at the Jaigarh Fort was also vandalized.

The members of the Karni Sena reached the fort to stop the making of the film till the filmakker changed the alleged distorted narrative and things went out of hand. For Bollywood this is certainly a shocking incident where the creative liberty of the filmmakers stands at stake.

Shocked and appalled by the incident so many artists and filmmakers took to Twitter to show their solidarity with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Padmavati. They also condemned the horrific attack on the filmmakers rights and freedom.

Amid the chaos, an old tweet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone viral on social media in which he had written that art cannot have any restrictions.

“Art can’t have any restrictions or limits: PM @narendramodi,”

Tweeted PMO India when Modi inaugurated a new building of the Bombay Art Society in Mumbai. “Art brings our history to life,” he had said at the event. But the tweet is being massively shared on social media because of the incident that happened yesterday which is nothing but restricting art.

 

A gentle reminder sir… a couple of days after republic day if we as an industry have to deal with such humiliation for expressing ourselves , it’s frankly very disheartening . Please stand up for us.. #padmavati

A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Jan 27, 2017 at 10:20pm PST

Here’s what the Film Fraternity has to say about the attack:

Can once the whole film industry come together and take a stand, and refuse to be a pony that all bullshit and bullshitters ride on?? — Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 27, 2017

At the same time Shame on you Karni Sena, you make me feel ashamed to be a Rajput.. bloody spineless cowards .. — Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 27, 2017

A film that is not yet made, but the whole world knows the script and what it’s going to be. Such visionaries.. waah — Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 28, 2017

My fellow film folk, if we do not unite now against these recurring incidents of bullying, it’s going to get much worse. #IstandbySLB — Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017

If u don’t like what he’s making, don’t watch his film. What’s with the violence?? Apart from a vulgar display of self righteousness..

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 27, 2017

And for all those so called protectors of history!!! Have you read the script of the film??? Do you know facts??? So then just SHUT UP!!!! — Karan Johar (@karanjohar) January 28, 2017

The Actors of the film Padmavati also took to twitter:

As a team, we are making ‘Padmavati’ keeping in mind the sensitivities and emotions of the people of Rajasthan and the Rajput community. — Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) January 28, 2017

Our only endeavour is & has always been to share with the world the story of this courageous & powerful woman in the purest form there is.

— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) January 28, 2017

Our only endeavour is & has always been to share with the world the story of this courageous & powerful woman in the purest form there is. — Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) January 28, 2017

Our only endeavour is & has always been to share with the world the story of this courageous & powerful woman in the purest form there is.

— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) January 28, 2017

Very very sad. Words do fall short and feel too little to express feelings. Violence is unacceptable. This incident has shocked me. — Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) January 28, 2017

Sanjay bhansali is a film maker who the country should be proud of. You will know when u see #padmavati the dignity he brings to it.

— Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) January 28, 2017

And my only regret is that I wasn’t by his side when this happened.   — Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) January 28, 2017

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has cancelled his shoot in Jaipur and returned to Mumabi. We hope that the perpetrators are punished for their wrongdoings.

Click and watch the new song here:

At the launch of the new Befikre Ranveer Singh said that he was the first choice of Aditya Chopra for “Befikre” right from the beginning despite the director having Shah Rukh Khan star in all his three films he made in his near three-decade long career.

“I am the least territorial person; I don’t think I am entering anyone’s territory. Adi sir wanted to make the film with me and I am involved in the project from its scripting. I am glad that my mentor has given me the opportunity to work under his direction. It’s a big deal for me,” said the actor at the launch of “You and I” song of “Befikre” here with Vaani Kapoor, his co-star in the movie.

Watch : Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor”s Befikre song Nashe Si Chadh Gayi

“Befikre” is set to release next month. The film has three songs, composed by Vishal-Shekhar and written by Jaydeep Sahni.

Earlier Ranveer worked with Aditya Chopra on “Ladies VS Ricky Bahl” where Chopra penned the story of the film.

Noting that after Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, he is the only actor in Bollywood directed by Aditya Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, he said: “I am so proud and happy. I think I am lucky to get such opportunity. Though I want to work with big names of Bollywood, I also want to work with young directors and fresh idea.”

Watch : Befikre Official Trailer 2016 | Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor | YRF Films

Through the film is grabbing headlines with Ranveer tagged as a serial kisser, he said that the film has got a U/A certificate. “The projection of kiss here is not wild or lust but as warm as a hug. It has been shown is a very tasteful manner… so perfect for family viewing.”

For Vaani, it is her second film after a gap of three years from her Bollywood debut in “Shuddh Desi Romance” (2013). Sharing the reason for this, she said: “Adi sir advised me to wait for the right film to come. Now that this film is ready to release, I think the wait was worth enough.”

Also Read : Ranveer Singh opens his heart out for Deepika Padukone

As the film talks about new-age relationship of boys and girls where they have no time for love, asking about his opinion on the same, Ranveer said: “There is a generational shift on the perception and outlook of romantic relationship. This film represent young mind of today’s generation. Personally, I am a bit traditional when it comes to relationships.”

IANS

Filmmaker Karan Johar will be back on the small screen with the fifth edition of the popular chat show “Koffee With Karan” on November 6. It will be launched on Star World and Star World HD.

Speculation has been rife since the beginning of August on the launch date of the show, but the date was announced on Thursday via a statement from the channel.

In its past seasons, the show has been graced by a string of A-list actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gurinder Chadha, Farah Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt and more at their candid best.

Earlier, it was speculated that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan would be the first guest on the chat show. But Karan denied the reports.

He said: “No. I haven’t yet reached the combination. There has been a lot of conjecture about that. We are zeroing on episode one and will answer soon.”

Also Read: Karan Johar announces Female Filmmaker Award at Mami Film Festival

It’s finally happening! Shahid Kapoor has agreed to work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati opposite Deepika Padukone. Bhansali’s Padmavati is going to be another love saga, featuring Shahid, Deepika and Ranveer Singh.

Bhansali’s had to do a lot of convincing for getting Shahid as the second lead in the movie. Sasha will be playing Deepika’s husband in the love story, as Raja Raval Ratan Singh, according to reports.

This is not all, as Shahid has also received a hefty paycheck for accepting a second-lead in the movie. He has been paid about 40 percent more than the amount he normally gets.

“Shahid will be paid around Rs 8-10 crore for Padmavati which is the highest he has got till date. Usually Sasha gets paid around Rs 6-7 crore, but for this film he is getting a higher amount and the reason behind it is that he is playing the second lead.”

“Also there was no other actor who was ready to play the role of Raja Raval Ratan Singh and SLB was left with no option but to pay this huge amount to Sasha,” a source informed.

Also Read: Kareena Kapoor congratulates Shahid Kapoor on birth of baby girl

For Padmavati, a huge is been constructed at the Mehboob Studios. The set will resemble Chittor, the place where the movie is been based. Meanwhile, Deepika will be playing Rani Padmavati, while Ranveer will be essaying the role of Alauddin Khilji.