‘Bharat Bandh on Release Day’: Rajputs Protest Padmavati in Mumbai

Hundreds of protesters from several Rajput groups held demonstrations against Padmavati in Azad Maidan.

Hundreds of protesters from various Rajput groups held demonstrations against Padmavati at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.

(Photo: Canva/The Quint)

Hundreds of protesters from several Rajput groups swept into Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Monday, 20 November, protesting against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Padmavati.

The protest was led by Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who reiterated that his organisation would not allow the movie to be released at any cost.

I found out that the movie’s release has been postponed, but no matter what date is set for its release, we will call for a Bharat bandh on that very day.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi, chief, Karni Sena

Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi led the protest held at Azad Maidan against the release of Padmavati.

BJP MLAs Ram Kadam and Raj Purohit too joined the protest against the film.

Rajput women holding anti-Padmavati placards.

Also Read: Padmavati Controversy: Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar Blame Government

Bhansali has already screened the film for certain sections of the media. Why hasn’t he shown the film to the Rajputs?

Ram Kadam, BJP MLA

The Karni Sena chief spearheading the protest. 

Also Read: Sad & Strange: Hansal Mehta, Shyam Benegal on ‘Padmavati’

Protesters from various Rajput groups across the city made their way to the protest.

Kadam added that they would not allow any other filmmaker to ‘alter’ history this way in then future.

Padmavati was to be release on 1 December initially. On Sunday, 19 November, Viacom18 announced its decision to postpone the release.

Also Read: Inside Story: Why Was Deepika Padukone’s ‘Padmavati’ Postponed?

(This is a developing story)