A Meerut resident from the Kshatriya community on Thursday announced a bounty of Rs 5 crore on the heads of film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone for "wrongfully portraying" queen Padmini in their coming film 'Padmavati'.
Thakur Abhishek Som of Sardhana Chaubisi, who claimed affiliation to the Samajwadi Party, said the Kshatriya community will not tolerate wrongful portrayal of the queen and meddling with its rich heritage.
Claiming that his political affiliations had nothing to do with his stand, Som warned that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to save the Bollywood film maker and the actor.
Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha: Mahipal Singh Makrana of Rajput Karni Sena in a self-made video #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/82AWKGO7IU
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017
Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha members protest against #Padmavati in #Jaipur, give signatures with blood to be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification pic.twitter.com/pN9NwB4F9Y
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017
We will gather in lakhs, our ancestors wrote history with blood we will not let anyone blacken it; will call for Bharat bandh on 1 December: Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Rajput Karni Sena #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/zYvdHLsAB2
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017
Demanding a ban on the movie, Som told the media that it would be better if Deepika Padukone left the country or else her head will be chopped off.
"I am making this declaration on behalf of the Kshatriya Samaj," he said.
He accused Bhansali of lacking knowledge about history and that he was only interested in Box Office profits even if it meant meddling with history.
Som said he was ready to face the consequence of his stand on the issue.
The Mumbai Police on Thursday beefed up the security of actor Deepika Padukone after Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS) warned of physical harm in case she did not refrain from "inciting public sentiments", a senior official said.
Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana today invoked the nose chopping of 'Surpanakha' in the epic Ramayana and said if the Bollywood film "Padmavati" was not banned and Padukone does not refrain from fanning sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not lag behind in acting.
"The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukone's security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told.
We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actress's residence as well as office in Mumbai.
They have already provided protection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the Rajput community outfit protested outside his office in suburban Juhu last Saturday while accusing him of distorting historical facts in the history drama.
Police have beefed up security at Bhansali's residence in Versova in the city.
Organisations like the SRKS have been protesting against the release of the film, claiming that it distorts history and hurts sentiments.
The SRKS has called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.
In January this year, the SRKS had attacked the sets of the movie in Jaipur and even slapped Bhansali.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil told the government was assessing Padukone's security in the wake of the threats.
"We have already provided security to Sanjay Leela Bhansali as he was found to be at risk. Now a security assessment of Deepika Padukone is being done. If she is found to be at risk, adequate steps will be taken. However, nobody's threat can be taken at the face value until the government assesses it," he said.
Padukone had on Tuesday hit out against those protesting the release of 'Padmavati' and reportedly said "we've regressed as a nation".
