Padmavati row: Makers not keen on releasing film in UK without CBFC green signal

The film has got clearance by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

New Delhi: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Padmavati' is currently embroiled in a controversy as several fringe groups in the country have opposed to its release claiming 'distortion of historical facts' as the prime reason.

After initial reports suggested a possibility of 'Padmavati' releasing in the UK on the scheduled release date of December 1, 2017, reactions on the same flooded social media. 

The film has got a clearance by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) without any cuts, but the producers say they are not planning to release the film without the Indian censor board's go-ahead, sources said today as per PTI.

'Padmavati' was given a 12A rating by the BBFC which passed it for the audiences in the UK without any cuts. The 12A rating mandates that the film cannot be viewed by a child under the age of 12 unless accompanied by an adult.

"'Padmavati' (12A) moderate violence, injury detail," stated the official website of the British Censor Board. "All known versions of this work passed uncut," it said.

However, sources at Viacom 18 said they are not planning to release the film anywhere in the world without the requisite clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The film features Deepika Padukone in the titular role of Rani Padmavati, Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji and Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh. The film is a joint production by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions.

"The film has been cleared by the UK censor board without any cuts. But we are waiting for censor clearance in India. Till then we will not release the film anywhere," a source told PTI.

"As the film was supposed to release on December 1, there are over 50 countries where this process (of certification) is on," he said. 'Padmavati' has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused Bhansali of distorting history.

Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. However, Bhansali said in an appeal that there was no dream sequence and it was all a rumour.

Historians are divided on whether Padmini actually existed. She finds mention in the 16th-century epic poem 'Padmavat'.

Earlier scheduled to arrive in cinema halls on December 1, the release date of the film has been postponed by the makers until further notice. 

(With PTI inputs)