SLB SMILES AFTER A LONG TIME

The makers of Padmavati heaved a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court reprimanded politicians for speaking against the film before the censor board certified it. This, in a manner of speaking, means politicians trying to get mileage from the controversy have been asked to shut up.

While the film’s producers Viacom 18 Motion Picture expressed cautious relief at the judicial reprieve, sources close to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali say he is smiling for the first time.

“Sanjay hasn’t slept properly for months now and is being able to do so now. The entire controversy is an exercise in the bizarre for him. He doesn’t get it at all. Why are politicians and protesters speaking against the film without seeing it? Strangers outside his home ask him when Padmavati w i l l release. F r o m t h e public h e f e e l s o n l y l o v e f o r t h e film. So where is all the hatred and suspicion coming from,” asks a source close to the director.

While the release date is yet to be locked, sources close to Viacom 18 rule out the possibility of Padmavati clashing with Akshay Kumar’s Padman on January 24.

“There is no need for that sort of thing. Padmavati won’t clash with any major release. A release date will be decided only when the protests die down,” says a source close to the film.

In the meanwhile, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is working relentlessly on the post- production and remix. Everyone associated with the film has been asked to remain discreet.

“Rather than brooding over the delay, he’s working on polishing up his product further,” says a close friend of Bhansali.

“Be very quiet,” is the director’s instruction to his actors, musicians and technicians.

“Once the conflicts of interest are sorted, the Padmavati team will conduct a press conference announcing the date of release and answer all the questions of the press,” says the source.