Deepika Padukone's Padmavati: Unfair To Judge Without Watching, Says Sidharth Malhotra

New Delhi: Deepika Padukone's Padmavati, which has faced stiff opposition over its release from several Rajput outfits, is getting full support from the film fraternity. Celebs like Salman Khan and Sidharth Malhotra have spoken in favour of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Sidharth like Salman, supported Mr Bhansali for the kind of films he has made so far and said they are "respectful and artistic," reports news agency PTI. "If you see the kind of movies Sanjay Leela Bhansali has made, they are respectful, artistic and they have nothing offensive about them. So, I feel it is unfair that you comment on a film without watching it. Only the censor board has that right (to comment on a film). As an industry, we are hoping the film gets a good release and people are able to watch the film and then decide," he said.

The film bodies have also appealed to union ministers Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh to allow "freedom of expression for filmmakers."

The Rajput outfits claim that the historical facts in Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini of Chittor, have been distorted and it wrong imputes a romance between Rani Padmini and Emperor Alauddin Khilji, played by Ranveer Singh. Despite a clarification from Mr Bhansali, the outfits have called for a pan-India ban to its release.

Amidst Padmavati's impending release, the film's star Deepika Padukone was massively trolled for saying that 'we have regressed.' Speaking about the film's release, Deepika, 31, told news agency IANS, "Where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed. The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film," adding that the story of Padmavati needs to be told.

Meanwhile, a Rajput group, demanding a ban on Padmavati, targeted a cinema hall in Rajasthan's Kota, that was screening the film's trailer. Workers of the Rajput Karni Sena vandalised the shops in the mall.

Padmavati is scheduled to release on December 1.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)