A special screening of the controversial film ‘Padmaavat’ will be held for Justice Sandeep Mehta at a private theatre on Monday, in a bid to convince him to quash a case filed against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.
The Supreme Court had cleared the decks for the all-India release of Padmaavat on January 25 and stayed orders issued by the Rajasthan government prohibiting exhibition of the film in the state. The film’s screening, however, was not done in the Rajasthan due to opposition from the Karani Sena. This will be the first time when a special screening of the film will take place at a theatre.
During the hearing on Friday, police commissioner Ashok Rathore assured the court that law and order will be maintained during the special screening and protection will be provided.
“We told the court that we are ready to screen the film. The court had given two options for the screening location, later the court ordered screening at a private theatre. The case will be heard on Tuesday after the screening,” Nishant Bora, counsel for Bhansali said.
Virendra Singh, a resident of Nagaur district, had filed the FIR in Deedwana police station against the director and actors under sections of the Indian Panel Code for “hurting religious sentiments”.
{{/usCountry}}Virendra Singh, a resident of Nagaur district, had filed the FIR in Deedwana police station against the director and actors under sections of the Indian Panel Code for “hurting religious sentiments”.
{{/usCountry}}Bhansali, Padukone and Ranveer Singh moved a petition before the high court seeking quashing of the FIR.
Padmaavat, based on a 16th-century poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, has been at the centre of controversies ever since Bhansali began shooting in Jaipur in January last year.