"Padmavati" Row: Sanjay Leela Bhansali was asked to meet opponents, historians for an acceptable version.
director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and censor board chief Prasoon Joshi were asked by a parliamentary committee to appear before it amid the controversy surrounding the movie which has been accused of distorting history by fringe groups.
Various Rajput groups and political leaders have accused Mr Bhansali of distorting history in the movie by using a romantic dream sequence between the Rajput queen Padmini and Alauddin Khilji, a claim repeatedly denied by the filmmaker.
Here are the LIVE updates on the controversy over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati":
Parliamentary panel members today, while talking to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, said it seemed his movies tend to target communities which produced tension between them. Media was giving free space due to the ongoing controversy and even social media had given the movie immense space, the panel said, according to a PTI report.
They asked if the creating a controversy was a new trend to sell the movie, PTI reported citing sources.
"How could you assume that the movie could be released on December 1 when you applied to the CBFC on November 11. As per the cinematography act, the CBFC may take 68 days before certifying a movie?" the parliamentary panel asked Sanjay Leela Bhansali today in a meeting held amid raging controversy over the historic drama, "Padmavati", PTI reported citing sources.
"Is selective media screening of the movie fair and ethical? Was it an act to influence the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)," the panel members asked.
"Padmavati" director Sanjay Leela Bhansali faced a barrage of questions from the parliamentary panel, which asked him if the "selective" media screening of his film was aimed at influencing the CBFC, PTI reported citing sources.
Ahead of the meeting, BJP MP Anurag Thakur had tweeted about the focal point of the discussion.
The 30-member parliamentary panel on IT has also asked the producers of the movie and officials of the information and broadcasting ministry to attend the meeting and brief it on the furore related to the film, PTI reported.
The meeting was called by the panel, which looks into the issues of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, to discuss the problems and issues faced by the film. The panel is headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur and its members are senior BJP leader LK Advani, PTI reported.
"Padmavati" director Sanjay Leela Bhansali appeared before a parliamentary standing committee today on information technology to share his views on the controversy surrounding the film.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has left his hotel in Delhi and is headed to meet the parliamentary panel.
Prasoon Joshi, who is also scheduled to appear before the parliamentary standing committee on IT later today, told the Lok Sabha Committee on Petitions that the censor board had only cleared the trailer and promos of the period film: Press Trust of India
Censor board chief Prasoon Joshi today appeared before a parliamentary panel to brief members about the controversy over "Padmavati" and said the film had not yet been approved, sources said, according to news agency PTI
Sanjay Leela Bhansali reaches Delhi ahead of the meeting the parliamentary panel this afternoon.
Actor Esha Gupta said it is unfortunate how people are taking mileage out of the"Padmavati" controversy, instead of focusing on more important issues in the country. Asked about how she views death threats being issued to, Esha Gupta told reporters, "In India, right now no one says 'we will ban this or that' when a rape happens, but a film is getting so much mileage because even these people know that they will get mileage out of a movie. "They don't think rape is that important. They should focus on actual social issues."
"Issuing death threats to Deepika Padukone & Sanjay Leela Bhansali is wrong," said Nana Patekar
"Why does controversy happen in his films? I don't know how the characters are portrayed as of now, I can tell this to Sanjay (Bhansali) only after watching the film," actor Nana Patekar said.
Officials in Viacom18 Motion Pictures, which has co-produced the film along with Bhansali Productions, refused to comment.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Prasoon Joshi are expected to attend the meeting at 3 pm.
Actors Paresh Rawal and Raj Babbar, who are members of Parliament, are also part of the panel which will examine the issues relating to the movie.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been asked to explain his point of view amid several states saying they will not allow screening of his film. Prasoon Joshi, who heads the country's censor board, has also been asked to attend the meeting.