MID-DAY (January 9, 2018)

Recent reports stating that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavat (earlier titled Padmavati) will hit theatres on January 25 have led to renewed agitation around the movie. Despite the Censor Board clearing the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer for release with some modifications — including the title change — Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria declared last evening that the state won’t lift its ban on the period drama.

“Queen Padmini’s sacrifice is deeply linked to the state’s glory and honour, she is not just a figure in history for us but a symbol of our pride. We will not let her dignity be tarnished at any cost,” read a statement issued by Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s office.

Rajasthan was one of the many states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, that had banned the drama in November last year.

Rajput Karni Sena, which has been protesting against the movie’s release, has threatened to vandalise theatres that screen it.