Bollywood

Nitish Kumar bans ‘Padmavati’ in Bihar

Bollywood has seen drama unfold, but the kind of drama that has been circling around Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati' has left everyone perplexed about the room for creativity in this form of art. Cinema is supposed to be about liberties and freedom to express through pictures and for entertainment. However, the intolerance level in the country seemed to have revoked all kinds of basic constitutional rights of citizens.

After innumerable protests, vandalism and threats against the movie, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and leading lady Deepika Padukone, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has chosen to ban the movie from his ruling state. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said Padmavati will not be screened in Bihar till filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali clears his stand on the objections raised by people. No formal order, however, has been issued by the government.

Speaking to reporters in his Vidhan Sabha office, Nitish said: "Since objections against Padmavati are being raised from several quarters, its filmmaker should clarify his stand. So long as controversy about the film does not subside, the film would not be released in Bihar."

He was quoted saying that he had issues with Deepika Padukone's character dancing in the movie. He said, "Once the film director provides the clarifications, we will consider showing the film in Bihar", further emphasising that he doesn't want unnecessary controversy surrounding screening of the film before the current objections are resolved.