Protests at Rani Padmini's birthplace

Ahead of the release of Padmavati, thousands of people staged a protest against its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, which is the birthplace of Rani Padmini.

In a protest organised by the Padmini Johar Sansthan, an institution which organises the Johar mela at the Chittorgarh fort every year, thousands of men, women and children participated.

The protest was also backed by the Rajput outfit Karni Sena.

"Bhansali has distorted historical and cultural facts about the legendary queen. Despite our warnings, he hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community in Rajasthan. We will not let it release anywhere in Rajasthan," Takhat Singh, general secretary of the sansthan said.

The protest march also witnessed huge participation by school and college students.

The Rajput groups said the film makes a controversial twist in the story, and wrongly links queen Padmavati with the aggressive ruler Alauddin Khilji.

Protestors vandalised the posters and threatened a state-wide stir outside cinema halls if Bhansali fails to remove the scenes.

Earlier, Bhansali Productions had clarified in a letter to the Rajput groups that "there is no romantic dream sequence or any romantic scene between Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji" after Karni Sena representatives entered the sets of Padmavati in Jaipur's Jaigarh fort and ransacked the place, in addition to destroying expensive film equipment.

However, the Rajput outfits accuse Bhansali of not sticking to his promise.