Deepika Padukone Is Not the First to Play Padmavati on Screen

As CBFC clears ‘Padmavat’, a look at how Rani Padmini has been making her way into books, plays & films since 1906.

A still from Padmavati.

(Photo Courtesy: Viacom18 Motion Pictures)

Since 1906, Rani Padmavati has been mentioned in books, plays and movies without rousing any protests - from right wing groups like the Karni Sena or otherwise. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati however, has invited unprecedented, if absurd uproar across the country.

Now that CBFC has passed the film with a ‘UA’ certification and suggested changing the title to Padmavat, it makes us wonder yet again what is in the Deepika Padukone-RanveerSingh-Shahid Kapoor film that was not their in the earlier works on Rani Padmini? While you ponder about that, take a look at the earlier references to the Rajput queen - from Kshirode Prasad Vidyavinode’s 1906 play Padmini to the 1963 Tamil film Chittoor Rani Padmini.

Edit: Veeru Krishan Mohan