Padmavati row: Entertainment industry stages protest to mark solidarity with Bhansali

Mumbai: Members of film and television industry stopped shooting for a while here at Film City on Sunday to show solidarity with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and counter the protests against film Padmavati's release. Along with 19 other bodies of the film and television industry, the Indian Films and TV Directors' Association (IFTDA) stopped several ongoing shootings for 15 minutes. The movie 'Padmavati' directed by Bhansali has been facing the rage of various Rajput groups and political leaders, for allegedly "distorting historical facts". However, Bhansali has denied the alleged tampering with historical facts in the movie repeatedly. "This thing is not limited to one film only. It happens every time. Things are becoming worse day by day. Some sections of people are trying to dictate us what to wear, eat, talk," film and television actor Pavan Malhotra told the media "The administration has to come forward and take some necessary steps," the actor added. The film features Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji. The film was slated to release on December 1, 2017; however the release was put off as Bhansali's magnum opus is yet to get approval from the Central Board of Film Certification.