Theatre owners in Gujarat said Padmaavat will not be screened in any of the multiplexes or single-screen theatres in the state till the row over the film is resolved. “All it takes to cause mayhem is for someone to throw a stone and we don’t want to risk that”, said Khem Chand, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
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“Kshatriya community will contribute and give the person a reward of Rs 1 crore who chops off Deepika Padukone’s ears and nose”, Gajendra Singh, President Kshatriya Mahasabha said. If we go by the reactions recieved by Padmavati in trailers, posters and other revelations then it should do a business of something around 200 crores with around 70-75 crore in the opening weekend itself.
Security was beefed up in both the districts, especially outside cinema halls, and a large number of cops remained deployed across the two districts.
In Kolkata, Police has taken several preventive steps to avoid any law and order disruption during the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial movie Padmavat in the city, officials said. They were persuaded by the police to end the demo. “Local intelligence units should also be alerted to keep an eye of unscrupulous elements so that effective timely action is taken”, he said.
The film has been considered suitable for public screening in cinemas in Pakistan under the Motion Pictures Ordinance 1979. “We hope things will improve and the movie will see even bigger traction from Saturday onwards”.
Members of a fringe group – Kanpur Kshatriya Mahasabha on Wednesday, announced cash reward to anyone severing actor Deepika Padukone’s nose. The protesters also damaged his BMW vehicle and abused him for screening the movie. Police, however, managed to control the situation and detained a few activists.
Addressing the media after watching the film, mediator Suresh Chavhanke said, “Whatever objections we had raised against the film have been considered in sizable proportions”.
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While audiences overseas will be able to watch it this weekend (today marks its worldwide release, including in the UAE), millions of movie buffs in India can’t.
