'Padmavati' controversy: Protests in Gujarat, Maharashtra

Rajput fringe groups and some right-wing organisations led by the Rajput Karni Sena protested against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film "Padmavati" in Gujarat and Maharashtra today.

At least 15 members of the Akhand Rajputana Seva Sangh were detained while they were protesting against the film in Mumbai.

The Rajput Community, the Vishva Hindu Parishad, the Bajarang Dal and the Rajput Karni Sena held a joint protest against the film in Surat, Gujarat. 

"It is not a film, it is history. You cannot just show anything in the name of a film," said Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the president of the Rajput Karni Sena in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar.

Members of the Rajput Karni Sena had previously vandalised the film's sets and assaulted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Jaipur.

The groups are protesting against the film alleging it violates the honour of Rani Padmini, the central character in the film, played by actress Deepika Padukone.

They have objected to an alleged dream sequence between Ranveer Singh's Alauddin Khilji and Deepika Padukone's Rani Padmini, a claim Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly rubbished.

(Also Read - Padmavati Row: Now Bhansali Productions writes a letter to Akhand Rajput Seva Sangh)

The Supreme Court has refused to ban the film, stating that the censor board will give the green signal after following adequate guidelines.

The filmmaker is yet to seek the approval of the censor board, a process which routinely takes about 21 days.

"Padmavati" is based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in the 1540 poem "Padmavat", written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

The film also co-stars Shahid Kapoor as Rani Padmini's husband Rawal Ratan Singh and is up for release on November 1.