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Censor Board To Set Up A 'Historian Panel' To Scrutinize 'Padmavati' For Historical Accuracy: Report

We can't even.
A security guard walks past a poster of the upcoming Bollywood movie 'Padmavati' outside a theatre in Mumbai, India, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Danish Siddiqui
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
A security guard walks past a poster of the upcoming Bollywood movie 'Padmavati' outside a theatre in Mumbai, India, November 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Danish Siddiqui

In a yet another setback for the controversy-ridden Padmavati, the Central Board of Film Certification is likely to set up a historian panel to scrutinize the film for historical accuracy.

"The content will now have to be scrutinized for authenticity," IANS reported, quoting an unnamed source. This decision was taken after the makers stated that the film is 'partially based on historical facts.'

The film's troubles began when the Karni Sena, a self-styled right-wing group, took offense at the depiction of Rani Padmavati. The group believed that the makers were showing a romance between Alauddin Khilji and Queen Padmavati, a claim repeatedly denied by the makers, including director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and cast members, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh.

Several BJP politicians also threatened to disallow the film's release, with Suraj Pal Amu, the party's chief media co-ordinator in Haryana, even announcing a bounty for beheading the film's leading lady, Deepika Padukone.

The film's woes were further compounded when the CBFC sent the film back without certification as a column for declaring whether the film was a work of fiction or was based on historical facts was left blank.

The source told the news agency that the film hasn't been scheduled for viewing in December and will likely be screened only in January, making its release even more uncertain.

Produced by Viacom Motion Pictures, Padmavati was originally set to release on December 1. The delay, even by conservative estimates, is said to have cost a significant amount to producers in what was an already expensive film.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.