Padmavati row: Sanjay Leela Bhansali says ‘no dream sequence’ between Alauddin Khilji, Padmavati. Watch video

Padmavati has been in rough waters ever since rumours began doing the rounds that since Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhcouldn’t be shown romancing each other in the film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has inserted a dream sequence between their characters, Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji. From the Shri Rajput Karni Sena to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, several groups have objected to this ‘distortion of history’ .

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor (who plays Maharawal Ratan Singh in Padmavati) went blue in the face denying that any such scene was part of the film, but the opposition continued. The filmmaker was thrashed, the sets were torched, posters were burnt and protest marches were held.

Now, the official Facebook page of Padmavati has shared a video of Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali reiterating that there is no objectionable scene between Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji.

In the video, he says, “Nasmashkar. Main, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, iss video ke maadhyam se aapse kuch kehna chahta hoon. Maine film Padmavati bohot imaandari se, zimmedari se, mehnat se banayi hai. Main Rani Padmavati ki kahaani se humesha se prabhavit raha hoon aur yeh film unki veerta, unki balidaan ko naman karti hai. Par kuch afwaaon ki vajah se yeh film vivaadon ka mudda ban chuki hai. Afwaa yeh hai ki film mein Rani Padmavati aur Alauddin Khilji ke beech koi dream sequence darshaya gaya hai. Maine iss baat ko pehle bhi nakaara hai, likhit pramaan bhi diya hai iss baat ka pehle, aur aaj iss video ke maadhyam se phir se dohra raha hoon ki humare film mein Rani Padmavati aur Alauddin Khilji ke beech mein aisa koi scene nahi hai jo bhavnao ko thes pohochaye, jazbaaton ko takleef de. Humne iss film ko bohot zimmedari se banaya hai, Rajput maan aur maryada ka khayal rakha hai aur ek baar phir se main dohra raha hoon ki humare film mein Rani Padmavati aur Alauddin Khilji ke beech mein koi dream sequence nahi hai, koi aisa scene nahi hai jo kisi ko bhi takleef de. Dhanyavaad.

(Hello. I, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, want to tell you something through this video. I have made the film Padmavati with a lot of integrity, responsibility and effort. I have always been inspired by Rani Padmavati’s story, and this film salutes her valour and sacrifice. But because of some rumours, this film has become a subject of debate. The rumour is that in this film, there is a dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji. I have denied this before and provided written proof of the same then, and today, through this video, I am reiterating that in our film, there is no scene between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji that will hurt any sentiments. We have made this film very responsibly, keeping in mind the Rajput dignity and respect. I would like to reiterate once again that our film has no dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji or any other scene which will hurt anyone. Thank you.)”

Padmavati is scheduled to hit the screens on December 1, but a sword hangs over its release. The period drama has been facing severe political opposition, and speculation is rife that the release might be pushed. With the two-phase Gujarat Assembly election on December 9 and 14, the police will be on election duty, reports Mid-Day. However, there has been no official announcement regarding the change in release date.