Special Screening of ‘Padmaavat’ for Rajasthan HC Judge on 5 Feb

On 6 February, the HC will decide if the case against Sanjay Leela Bhansali should be quashed.

'Padmaavat' makers will hold a special screening of the controversial film for a Rajasthan High Court judge on Monday, 5 February, in a bid to convince him to quash a case filed against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and two lead actors of the movie.

The screening for Justice Sandeep Mehta and a few other judicial staff will be held in pursuance of a request by Bhansali to quash the case filed against him, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh in March, last year.

Virendra Singh and Nagpal Singh had filed the case at Deedwana police station, alleging the film distorted history and hurt the image of Rajput queen Padmavati, on whom the film is based.

Bhansali had then moved the court urging it to quash the case. The court had stayed the FIR but allowed the investigation to continue.

During a hearing on Friday, 2 February, the filmmakers agreed to a discreet screening of the epic drama for the court, provided adequate security is in place.

The court enquired if the film could be screened on the screen of the Rajasthan State Judicial Academy. But given the low resolution there, we expressed our wish to screen the film on any multiplex screen of the city.

Nishant Bora, Bhansali’s counsel

Bora said the film would now be screened on Monday at the INOX Ansal Royal Plaza in the city.

Earlier during the hearing, the court summoned the Jodhpur police commissioner, who assured the court on security issue but sought two weeks time to make the arrangements.

Judge Mehta expressed displeasure on the request. He told the police commissioner that the Supreme Court has given a go ahead for the nationwide screening of the film, and asked him: "Weren't you committing contempt of the court's order." After this, Bora said, the court ordered for screening the film on Monday.

The court listed the case for hearing on 6 February, when it will decide if the case against Bhansali should be quashed.

Rajasthan was among the four states that had either issued orders or notifications prohibiting the screening of the film after protests by fringe Rajput groups.

The Supreme Court had, last month, cleared the decks for the nationwide release of the film on 25 January.