Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hit out at Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and said that action should be taken against him as well for hurting sentiments.

Written by Ananya Bhattacharya

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hit out against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati. The still unreleased film that has been seeing nationwide protests for several weeks now.

The UP Chief Minister has said that if action is being taken against people who have announced bounty on Bhansali’s head or threatened to chop off Deepika Padukone’s nose, then there should also be action against the filmmaker who is hurting the sentiment of the people.

He also said, “We have already sent our objections and suggestions to the Ministry; nobody should be allowed to play with feelings.”

Yogi Adityanath’s comments come as reaction to calls for action being taken against people who have announced bounties on Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s head.

The Shri Rajput Karni Sena threatened the film’s heroine, Deepika Padukone last week. Mahipal Singh Makrana, president of the Rajasthan unit of the outfit, said that they would not hesitate to chop Deepika’s nose like Shurpanakha (Shurpanakha was a character in the Ramayana whose nose was chopped off by Lakshman).

Recently, Deepika called the controversy surrounding Padmavati “absolutely appalling” and said that as a nation, “we have regressed.” Members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena also threatened to behead Sanjay Leela Bhansali if he proceeds with the release of Padmavati.

Haryana BJP Chief Media Coordinator Suraj Pal Amu offered a reward of Rs 10 crore for anyone who beheads Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lead actress Deepika Padukone, and pledged to take care of his or her family.
He congratulated the Kshatriya Samaj member who recently announced a Rs 5 crore reward for such a deed.
Over the last few days, the lead actors of Padmavati, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor have both spoken out about the controversy surrounding their film.

While Ranveer said that he agreed ‘200 per cent’ with his director, Shahid said that it was unfair to judge the film before it is even out for the public to see.

The release date of Padmavati, meanwhile, has been indefinitely pushed from December 1. There is speculation that the producers might move Padmavati to February next year.