Padmavati to Padmaavat: A controversial journey

It has been a long and eventful journey before film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus became a reality. 
 
1988
 
Shyam Benegal's famous TV series Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru's 'The Discovery of India (1946)', featuring an episode about Padmavat starring Om Puri as Alauddin Khilji, was screened. Sanjay Leela Bhansali worked as assistant editor to the team of Bharat Ek Khoj.
 
 
2008
Sanjay Leela Bhansali produced an opera version in Paris, inspiring him to begin work on a film on Padmavati.
 
 
2016
 
July: Pre-production work of film Padmavati begins. Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor finalsed as main cast of the movie.   Deepika plays the title role of Rani Padmavati, the Rajput queen and consort of Ratan Singh, while Ranveer Singh will be seen as Alauddin Khilji, the Delhi sultan. The film is an adaptation of the epic poem Padmavat written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540.
 
December: Sanjay Leela Bhansali had to stop shooting as a worker died on the sets of Padmavati
 
 
2017
 
Jan: Sanjay Leela Bhansali was allegedly attacked and slapped by members of Karni Sena at Jaigarh fort in Jaipur, on the sets of Padmavati.
 
March: Unidentified men vandalise sets of Padmavati in Kolhapur by attacking it with swords and petrol bombs.
 
Sept: Posters of Padmavati released even as December 1 was finalised as the date of release.
 
Nov: Sanjay Leela Bhansali releases an online video clarifying that there is no romantic dream sequence between Queen Padmini and Alauddin Khilji and Rajput pride and honour has been kept in mind while making the movie.
 
Nov 10: Supreme Court dismisses plea seeking ban on Padmavati, asks Censor Board to look at all aspects
 
Nov 13: The Indian Film and Television Directors' Association, Cine and TV Artists Association, Western India Cinematographers Association, Screenwriters Association and Association of Cine and Television Art Directors & Costume Designers and Allied Mazdoor Union back Bhansali.
 
Nov 16: Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana issues threat to Deepika Padukone: "We never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha for violating the rules and culture of India."
 
Nov 19: Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the studio behind Padmavati voluntarily decides to defer Dec 1 release.
 
Nov 20: Bharatiya Itihas Va Sanskriti Rakshak Manch and Rashtriya 36 Kaum Ekta Parishad vow not to allow release of Padmavati. Shri Rajput Karni Sena founder Lokendra Singh Kalvi addresses mammoth meeting in Mumbai's Azad Maidan.
 
Nov 24: A dead body found hanging in Nahargarh Fort, with a sentence scribbled on a nearby rock in Hindi: "Padmavati ka virodh" (in opposition to Padmavati). The graffiti also included a warning -  "We don't just burn effigies, we hang them."
 
Dec 30: CBFC suggests change of name from Padmavati to Padmaavat, decides to give U/A certificate with five modifications.
 
 
2018
 
Jan 16: Padmaavat makers move Supreme Court challenging ban imposed by govts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.
 
Jan 17: Supreme Court clears release of Padmaavat.
 
Jan 19: Akshay Kumar decides to postpone release of Padman to   February 9, to avoid clashing with Padmaavat release.
 
Jan 25: Padmaavat set to be released
 
 
(Compiled by: Mrityunjay Bose)