Akhilesh Khandelwal, a leader of the BJP announced a reward price of Rs 10,000 to anyone who slaps director Sanjay Leela Bhansali with a shoe for allegedly distorting historical facts in his latest venture, 'Padmavati'.
Commentators were lauding the facebook post and hailing the leader's choice of words, with one even saying 'Thapad kha kar bhi nai sudhra toh jutte hi padenge' ("If slaps couldn't improve him, he will be hit by shoes")
According to a report by The Deccan Chronicle, the leader later told the media that he does not regret his statement and was quoted as saying, "“They (such film personalities) are trying to distort our history to show us in poor light in public. We can no more remain silent. We consider it our responsibility to rein in such forces”.
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his crew faced quite a violent backlash from members of a fringe outfit called the Karni Sena in Jaipur where the set and production of 'Padmavati' was manhandled and the shooting was forced to go on a hault. Protesters alleged distortion of history, claiming that love sequence between the characters of Padmavati and Alaaudin Khilji was shot.
Clearly affected by such turn of events, Bhansali Productions released an official statement saying that the shooting has been brought to a hault at Jaipur, citing the 'safety of the crew' as a reason.
