Meena Iyer (DNA; December 27, 2017)

Waiting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati has become like waiting for Godot for filmmakers. There are so many probable release dates being bandied around the period drama that every director-producer, who announces his release date in the next two months, thinks his film may clash with the Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singh-starrer.

The latest news is that two historians from Rajasthan, who have seen Padmavati, are due to give their feedback to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief, Prasoon Joshi, in the first week of January. There is a possibility that at least two or more historians will also view the movie and share their response, after which a consensus will be taken. “All this is a time-consuming process. And a release date can be given only after the censor certificate arrives,” says a trade analyst.

In the meanwhile, there are reports that the overseas distributors of Padmavati have already sent a schedule to theatre chains in the US and Canada saying that they will release it on February 9.

As of now, Luv Ranjan’s comedy Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety will hit the screens on February 9. In the unlikely event that Padmavati arrives on the same date, Luv is ready to shift his release. Speaking to us after the trailer screening of his movie, the maker said, “If Bhansali sir is arriving on that date, I will not be ashamed to move my film to accommodate him. I will shift the release date of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety if Padmavati comes.”

In India or overseas, the decks are being cleared for Padmavati to arrive in the week of Mahashivratri and Valentine’s Day. But will she keep her date with us?  That’s a million dollar question as of now.