Glamourising Khilji akin to praising acid attackers: Minister

CHANDIGARH: In letters to Union minister Smriti Irani and Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Haryana minister Vipul Goel on Sunday sought changes in the Bollywood film and said that “glamourising Alauddin Khilji’s character was akin to praising those who carry out acid attacks on girls”.

In a letter to the Union information and broadcasting minister, Goel drew Irani’s attention to the controversy surrounding the film, due to release shortly.

The minister said that apart from the Rajput community, there were concerns regarding the movie in other sections of the people as well.

The magnum opus starring Deepika Padukone as Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, is based on the legend of Rani Padmavati, a Hindu Rajput queen.

The minister claimed that these concerns pertain to “whether historical facts in the film have been presented in a twisted manner”.

“There is anger among the people of Haryana, like many other states, regarding the film glorifying the negative character of Alauddin Khilji rather than our own rich history,” the Haryana Industries and Commerce minister said in his letter to Irani. He said films based on historical facts, while exercising the freedom of thought, should also keep in mind the people’s sentiments and culture.