Maoists Support Padmavati, Want The Film Released Without Hitches

Beleaguered maker of controversial film Padmavati has got support from an entirely unlikely quarter. The banned Maoists have backed his film and have demanded that the film should be released without any hitches.

Posters and handbills demanding the release of the film on the life of Rajput queen Padmavati were pasted in several places in Dantewada and Bastar in Chhattisgarh. The Maoists wanted the Government to intervene and enable the film to release. The posters and handbills said freedom of expression was sacrosanct and all attempts to muzzle public opinion should be condemned.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" has been mired in controversies since its shooting started. Activists of the Karni Sena, a Rajput community, besides other groups have been protesting against the movie, claiming the film "distorts" historical facts. The film stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.