Censor board needs space and time to decide on 'Padmavati'

CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi on Monday said the censor board is trying to come up with a "balanced decision" on Padmavati but it should be given adequate space and time to do that.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film is the first major hurdle that Joshi faces as the head of the Central Board of Film Certification.

Joshi said the board asks for 68 days for the certification process of a film so that they have enough time if a situation like Padmavati comes up.

"We need to understand that the CBFC must take a balanced decision. This situation was not created by the CBFC. It had nothing to do with the protests on the roads. You show the film to media houses and get reviews done but you want CBFC to deliver a fair and well-thought-out decision?" Joshi said, speaking on the sidelines of IFFI's inaugural ceremony.

The censor board had returned the application to the film's makers citing "technical issues" after various Rajput groups and politicians accused the director of "distorting historical facts".

"I respect Sanjay Leela Bhansali a lot. As a member of the film fraternity, I understand him. But this issue is not about Bhansali. It is about the controversy over the film," he said. The adman-lyricist said it was not the time for arguments as discussion and dialogues were the way forward.